My son, D, has been begging me to sign him up for a running race. It's been hard to find one; kids' races (usually held the day before a big race like a marathon) are few and far between. I did find a few recently, but they have been on days where he had soccer, or t-ball, and I don't want him to miss a team-related event if he could help it.
I finally found a race--the Carlsbad Junior, in April. It's the day before the big Carlsbad 5000 (5K), which is an extremely popular race here in San Diego. It happens to be on a day when he has no t-ball, so we are completely free that day. I signed him up for the 1/2 mile run (for kids ages 4-6). He is very excited.
But the best part is that I signed A up too! For kids under age 4, there is a Toddler Trot (50 yards) and a Diaper Dash (25 yards). Miss Thang is going to walk the Toddler Trot! It's the length of half a football field...TOTALLY doable for her. Of course, when I registered her for it, she had only been really walking for 6 weeks! I have laugh....who knew that when this year started that my daughter would not only be walking within a couple of weeks, but a few months later would be "competing" in her first "race"!?!?!?! I am thrilled, and plan on walking every step alongside her.
Both kids will get a goody bag, t-shirt, and finishers' medal. I cannot wait---this should be a great morning for both kids, and perhaps the start of a love of running like their mama!
March 10, 2010
March 2, 2010
Chelsea King
Today Chelsea King's body was found. Dead.
I cannot tell you how devastated I am about this. No, I did not know her. But for some reason I connected more closely to this case than to any other missing person...even Amber Dubois, a missing teen (who is STILL missing) from Escondido, a town, soooo very close to me.
Why?
First of all, Chelsea went to Poway High School. A few miles away from me. Poway High School will be D and A's rival high school when they go to high school. This community, not just San Diego, but MY COMMUNITY, is torn up. Just today I was driving the local streets and the trees were adorned with blue ribbons, for Cheslea. It's RIGHT HERE.
Next, she was attacked (and raped? and killed) while running. In broad daylight. I run. I can't imagine going out for a jog and being attacked like that.
From everything I've read about her, she was a superstar....on the track team, in the band, straight A student, honor roll. A rising star that will never get to shine.
Finally, as a mom, I just cannot imagine what her parents must feel. Two months ago, my cousins' beautiful 16 year old daughter was killed in a car accident. Just imagining the anguish of these parents...it's unfathomable. My children are the loves of my life. Not that I don't love my husband...I do. Very much. He is my soul mate and if something happened to him it would be absolutely devastating to me. But my son and daughter? They are my life. An extension of me. And to have a child killed so senselessly (whether by random car accident or by psycho killer) is something I pray to God I never have to go through.
No, I never knew Chelsea. But I know my children. And for that, I mourn her loss to her family and this community.
I cannot tell you how devastated I am about this. No, I did not know her. But for some reason I connected more closely to this case than to any other missing person...even Amber Dubois, a missing teen (who is STILL missing) from Escondido, a town, soooo very close to me.
Why?
First of all, Chelsea went to Poway High School. A few miles away from me. Poway High School will be D and A's rival high school when they go to high school. This community, not just San Diego, but MY COMMUNITY, is torn up. Just today I was driving the local streets and the trees were adorned with blue ribbons, for Cheslea. It's RIGHT HERE.
Next, she was attacked (and raped? and killed) while running. In broad daylight. I run. I can't imagine going out for a jog and being attacked like that.
From everything I've read about her, she was a superstar....on the track team, in the band, straight A student, honor roll. A rising star that will never get to shine.
Finally, as a mom, I just cannot imagine what her parents must feel. Two months ago, my cousins' beautiful 16 year old daughter was killed in a car accident. Just imagining the anguish of these parents...it's unfathomable. My children are the loves of my life. Not that I don't love my husband...I do. Very much. He is my soul mate and if something happened to him it would be absolutely devastating to me. But my son and daughter? They are my life. An extension of me. And to have a child killed so senselessly (whether by random car accident or by psycho killer) is something I pray to God I never have to go through.
No, I never knew Chelsea. But I know my children. And for that, I mourn her loss to her family and this community.
March 1, 2010
The best $3.99 I ever spent
Today, after speech therapy and adapted P.E. I took A to the supermarket for our weekly shopping. We passed a display of balls (the typical plastic kickball-type) and I saw one with Dora the Explorer on it. I couldn't pass it up; A LOVES Dora, and she has been working on kicking a ball in P.E.
When we got home, we went outside in the backyard (I didn't have to ask twice; A just loves going outside). She had a blast throwing the ball, chasing it, picking it up, kicking it, and doing the whole thing all over again. Keep in mind that she JUST STARTED TRULY WALKING ABOUT SIX WEEKS AGO; the fact that she is doing this is amazing. I never dared to dream that she would one day be able to stand still and kick a ball. Stand still unassisted? Balance on one leg while kicking with the other? Quickly walk around the patio? Bend over and pick up a ball? Sweet dreams are made of this!
Soon, I directed her to the little basketball hoop we have outside. We had gotten the hoop for D almost 5 years ago, for his first birthday. It's been largely unused for several years (D is too big for it now) and many times I had toyed with the idea of donating it. After all, I reasoned, A would never use it. Well, boy did that little girl prove me wrong! She loved it! I lowered the hoop down to her level, where she had to reach up only a little. She had a blast putting the ball in again and again. I am looking forward to raising the bar and having her really have to throw it in!
With A walking, my whole vision for what she can do has changed. J and I talked tonight, and we think that in the fall we will sign her up for mommy-and-me soccer! She will LOVE it. I would sign her up today, except that there is literally no time in our schedule for it. In the fall, she will go to school 3 days a week, all in the afternoon, leaving every morning and two afternoons a week free. I know we have lots of therapies to squeeze in (which is why I signed her up for afternoons vs. mornings) but we should have time for soccer. And maybe gymnastics. And ballet. I am looking forward to doing an extra-curricular activity with her that is active; so far, all we have done is music, because that mainly involves sitting!
I am so glad I bought her the ball. For less than $4, I was able to re-frame my plan for A. She will be an active little athlete...she wants to so badly, and therefore she will be.
When we got home, we went outside in the backyard (I didn't have to ask twice; A just loves going outside). She had a blast throwing the ball, chasing it, picking it up, kicking it, and doing the whole thing all over again. Keep in mind that she JUST STARTED TRULY WALKING ABOUT SIX WEEKS AGO; the fact that she is doing this is amazing. I never dared to dream that she would one day be able to stand still and kick a ball. Stand still unassisted? Balance on one leg while kicking with the other? Quickly walk around the patio? Bend over and pick up a ball? Sweet dreams are made of this!
Soon, I directed her to the little basketball hoop we have outside. We had gotten the hoop for D almost 5 years ago, for his first birthday. It's been largely unused for several years (D is too big for it now) and many times I had toyed with the idea of donating it. After all, I reasoned, A would never use it. Well, boy did that little girl prove me wrong! She loved it! I lowered the hoop down to her level, where she had to reach up only a little. She had a blast putting the ball in again and again. I am looking forward to raising the bar and having her really have to throw it in!
With A walking, my whole vision for what she can do has changed. J and I talked tonight, and we think that in the fall we will sign her up for mommy-and-me soccer! She will LOVE it. I would sign her up today, except that there is literally no time in our schedule for it. In the fall, she will go to school 3 days a week, all in the afternoon, leaving every morning and two afternoons a week free. I know we have lots of therapies to squeeze in (which is why I signed her up for afternoons vs. mornings) but we should have time for soccer. And maybe gymnastics. And ballet. I am looking forward to doing an extra-curricular activity with her that is active; so far, all we have done is music, because that mainly involves sitting!
I am so glad I bought her the ball. For less than $4, I was able to re-frame my plan for A. She will be an active little athlete...she wants to so badly, and therefore she will be.
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