That Physical Piece
Growing up, I remember an old man with a toque and big boxing glove mittens, jogging down the sidewalk along Riverbend Road in the dead of winter. Shirtless. Each year I’d watch him as we drove by in our warm car just shocked–and amazed, thinking that this had to be the year he caught pneumonia and died. My parents would just shake their heads in unbelief as they watched him too. But even though we thought he was crazy, we really, really admired him. We didn’t really know why he did what he did every winter, but we knew he must have some sort of iron will–some incredible motivation to do it.
I had to channel Mr. Chan today to get myself psyched up enough to run with J after school today. Fargo winters are much like Edmonton winters. Today wasn’t really cold at all, only -4 C (25 F), but there was a killer wind from the south which made it feel MUCH colder. I’m a fair weather runner. I’ll run, but it’s got to be under the right conditions. And I don’t run outside from the months of January-March. It’s too dark and cold, and really all I want to do is hang out in a blanket on the couch and watch Netflix. But this past year has made me realize how important it is for J to get out and run, play, burn energy any way he can. J needs that physical outlet (probably even more now that he’s hit puberty). He needs it not just for his physical health, but for his mental/emotional health as well. No matter what time of year or what the weather is like.
I mentioned J and medication in last week’s post. Even though he’s on medication for both his anxiety and ADHD symptoms we consider it just a piece in J’s regimen. Medication doesn’t solve all of his problems–and we don’t expect it to. We’re hoping that with the right dosage, it can quiet his brain down enough so he can hear his body, understand what it needs, and help him interact appropriately with the world around him.
Exercise helps J interact appropriately in the world around him. J typically goes on a run before school, then at school he has other opportunities to participate in physical activity. Of course there’s PE, but he also has movement breaks associated with occupational therapy which can include yoga. There’s also an additional time during the day where J goes to the weight room, does a circuit there, and then races on one of the video bikes. Then after school, J and I usually try to get in a 2-2 1/2 mile run before homework.
It’s crazy how much energy this kid burns–how much time of his day revolves around physical activity. But he needs it. He’s happier and works harder when he gets it. When we sit down to read or work through homework this body just feels calmer beside mine.
Over Christmas we tried to throw a few other things in the mix. We went sledding a few times and even made it out skating. My poor kids aren’t the best skaters around (every other kid their age seems to have been born on skates) but I’m really proud that they stick it out every time. Especially J. I know he’s making important connections in his brain when he’s trying to coordinate his body on ice.
It’s been fun to see him grow into this. He’s starting to run faster than me now (and I’m just hoping I’ll be able to keep up until it’s warm enough so I can bike beside him if I have to). Steve’s convinced him the treadmill is an okay option and we can get him to run 3/4 of a mile on that–our only option when it’s too cold and dark to go outside before school. Yes it can be an ordeal–if we’re sledding or skating it’s the whole snow pants, scarf, toque, waterproof mitts, loading up the car with sleds or skates routine. If we’re running outside it’s the whole find a few layers of long-sleeve shirts and see what fits under a windbreaker as well as putting on snow cleats on top of running shoes. For a kid with fine motor skills it’s a lot of work, but an essential part of having a “good” day. And it’s great that he’s starting to realize it too.
