Fail & Win

I spoke too soon.  When I posted about my first run of 3 on May 15th, I was perhaps feeling overly ambitious.  That was my first and last run that week.  I have many excuses but none of them too valid.

But...

I made up for it this week!  I ran on Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday.  I'm incredibly out of shape and I know this because my pace is completely off.  It's taking me way too long to complete a km but slow and steady wins the race, right?  I didn't do any great distances (between 3-5km) but I managed a collective 12.5km for the week.  It's definitely a start.

I'm planning a run tomorrow and I'm hyping myself up for a 6-8km distance.  I'm away at a retreat for work from Monday until Wednesday night so I'll already be behind for the week.  I'll have to squeeze in two short runs just to keep up with my personal challenge.

Not a clue what my weight is right now and I don't want to know.  Definitely know I'm not where I should be but my clothes are fitting and I'm sort of feeling confident in them.

May Goals

We're already at the halfway point but my BFF suggested we each pony up our running goals.  I've only been out twice this spring (not good) so I declared that I'd like to go 3x a week for the next 4 weeks.  I'll gradually increase my distance and hopefully get back into my pattern of 30km/week over the summer.

My week counts Monday to Sunday so I've got 2 left to do after last night's short run.

Mother's Day

In advance of the big day, I got in touch with a couple mum friends and suggested we meet up for pints.  Sounds good, right?  It was great.  I spent the morning with my boys (was treated to a new iPod Nano & running watch, a lie in and breakfast made by someone other than ME) and then skipped off to meet up with two friends.  We spent the afternoon slinging pints, eating cheeses & oysters before stumbling home 8 (yes, 8!!!) hours later.  Bed by 11pm and not a fuzzy feeling in the head the next day!

Definitely needs to become tradition.  Definitely.

Are you a 10?

2012 marks the 10th year of the Weekend to End Women's Cancers in Toronto, which has raised over $120 million benefitting The Princess Margaret Hospital.

After being approached (read: coerced & bullied) by fellow co-workers, I approached (read: coerced & bullied) my BFF at work into doing the walk with me & joining the company team.  Despite the revolting blood blisters on my heels and hips that clickity-clacked more than M's Thomas train set for weeks (or months) onwards, it was worth it.  It was so so SO worth it.  It's gut wrenching and motivating and tearjerking and inspiring and tiring and empowering all rolled up into a tight ball of goodness.

Last year, I walked in memory of D's mom who we lost in March 2011 after a very short battle with ovarian cancer.  I walked for & with everyone who has had to go what she did or faced that battle.  I walked for D and M so they don't ever have to know what it feels like to live through that again.  I walked for ME because I'll be damned if any of these cancers are going to affect my family again.

I'll be walking again this year and I'm prepared.  My feet will be covered in Bodyglide and I'll have tissues at the ready.  I'm ready for the tears & the laughs and a good solid time with friends & co-workers.  I'm ready to do my part for research & support.  This year, I am a 10.

2 Months Plus Some

I've been MIA.  Again.  Work & family life has been nuts lately.  I need a weekend just to recover from my weekend.  I'm frazzled yet collected yet coming apart at the seams yet making it happen.  You know? I haven't been in a great place mentally lately so I've been avoiding blogging.  I feel bitchy and cranky and disgruntled.  And tired.  Oh so tired.  Alas, I've got to get it together, plod ahead and get into a better mindset.

Things...

We went to NYC.  I'll do another food review soon.  We ate our way through the city AGAIN.  Obviously.

M turned 3!!!  Time really does fly when you're having fun.

18+ months of hard work have paid off and construction activities have started on my site.  The insanity is about to increase...  tenfold.

I read the Fifty Shades trilogy.  I want to read it again.  I might need my own Christian Grey.

So...

Yeah, that's it for me.  I haven't jumped ship and I'm still here...  hoping to blog a bit more soon.

(Both times, I typed blob instead of blog...  am I trying to tell you something?)

Saturday (Wine Induced) Randomness

When I was pregnant, I craved Journey. Yes, Journey... the 80s rock group. I listened to Don't Stop Believing every.single.day of my pregnancy.

Loudly.

Multiple times.

Driving in my MINI.

Good times.

Judgment Day

A friend's FB status today was about how her kids go bananas when walking into daycare and insist on being carried. She was venting and maybe asking for a bit of advice when one of our mutual friends chimed in and the first question she asked was "do you feel guilty for taking your kids to daycare" before moving on to other questions and finally suggesting that maybe the kids are picking up on mom's vibes.

This question pissed me off. It really did and I let it be known. Yes, I know what she was getting at and she didn't really mean for it to be interpreted that way but she said it and it rubbed me the wrong way. I responded with a sarcastic "I didn't know we were supposed to feel guilty for taking our kids to daycare" before responding directly to my friend's original status.

Stuff like this gets my back up. I've had SO many people ask me if I feel guilty for working or how many hours M spends at daycare and while I maybe sometimes feel not-so-great-on-certain-but-rare-days, I am so over the guilt thing. This is our reality and it works for us and ALL of us are thriving and dare I say... loving it?

As mothers, we judge. I know I did (and do truth be told) though I'm trying to ignore anything that doesn't involve me & our bubble of a life but yeah, I judge the mother who stands there pushing a baby stroller while smoking or the mother who makes no attempt to teach her kid manners and I certainly judge the mother who judges ME. I try not to judge the action but yes ma'am, I will judge the person who judges me.

Since having a baby, I have noticed that some other mothers feel it's within their right to question other mother's parenting choices. The first question most people ask after a mother has her baby is if she had an epidural (I did) or if she did it all naturally. I had SO many people pass judgment on me because I/we CHOSE not to breastfeed. Friends made comments, suggested I just try it, tell me it was better for MY baby, etc. We did not practice attachment parenting and in my little online community of mothers, that was a fate worse than death. When I went back to work, friends constantly asked if I felt guilty about it or if I thought I SHOULD stay home with my son or even implied that my choice to return to work was BAD.

I really don't care how you raise your kid(s) because at the end of the day, you don't live in my home. As long as your kid grows to be a functioning part of society -- you know, doesn't rob banks, beat up other kids and that sort of thing -- I don't care what you do to get them there. Your daughter is in daycare? *gasp* You breastfed your toddler? *omg* You gave birth and took the drugs? *shame* Why do we do this to each other?!

Judge me or make a blanket judgmental statement and yes, I'll judge you for making such ridiculous and ignorant comments that work to make a mother feel badly about the decisions she (and her partner) have made. I'll maybe even judge you for the fear that your kids will pick up on these sorts of ignorant thoughts.