Moms Don’t Get Sick Days

Published on by Squats and SkittlesLeave a comment

“Hey babe, the tomatoes and cucumbers go in the right side of the lunch box container and the strawberries and blueberries go on the left”. This was a legit concern of mine as I laid on the couch in a cold sweat from the flu. This is how ‘tuned in’ I am to my job as SAHM, that I wanted to make sure my children got their lunch exactly the same as I usually pack them, since I was too beat to pack them myself.

  • pre-sick day fun

There is something wrong with that! The inability to let go of even the most simple tasks while I recover from the flu is a problem! Referring to #Moms DontGetSickDays, which has 12K posts on IG, the real question is, do moms allow themselves to get sick days? More likely, am I allowing myself to have a sick day or am I still butting my snot filled nose in my husbands business, as he tries to do his best in this foreign world full of pink lunchboxes and Unicorn backpacks?

As moms, we try to do it all. We ask for little help, bust our butts for our crew, and expect little in return, even on sick days! As I sit here sweating out the flu and binge watching Marie Condo (yawn), I started thinking about this morning and how I just couldn’t stay in bed. I had to be on the couch so I could over see the morning routine. WHY!? A similar thing happend last night, I could hardly keep my beady sick eyes open but forced myself to stay awake so I could tuck my kids into bed. I ended up passed out at 7:15pm, about 2 seconds after I kissed them goodnight. So, whats going on? Is it FOMO or am I just too caught up in being in control?

Don’t get me wrong, I am enjoying some serious peace and quiet right now (kid free), chillin, thinking about my morning, and how much I still had to inset myself even though I felt like I’d been hit by a train. I’m lucky enough to have a husband and Mimi to “run the show” while I’m sick. They canceled meetings and their workouts to get our whiny lovable kids where they needed to go so I could rest. So, I think that for my case, I’ve been offered a sick day, but I just couldn’t talk myself into letting go enough to take full advantage of it.

Thought……..maybe us moms don’t get sick days because we don’t allow ourselves to?

There is no harm in letting my kids go to school in mismatched outfits, hair tangled, and with a lunch full of gummy bears and sandwiches with crusts made by their fun-loving Dad. Maybe it’s time to LET GO a bit!

Maybe a lot of moms don’t get sick days, but I have been lucky enough to been offered two, but I couldn’t get out of my own damn way to use them right. If I’m not better by tomorrow (pray I am, sick life is so 2010, swine flu epidemic and boring as all hell) I promise I’ll shut my mouth, enjoy the backseat, and relish in a true Mom sick day, maybe even with a sandwich with a crust!

Peaks and Valleys

Published on by Squats and Skittles1 Comment
Hmm, what will I eat after this lift?

Motivation.  It’s what keeps you going.  It’s that little annoying voice in your head saying “just do it”.  It’s your reason why, or maybe just your why.  Motivation has peaks and valleys, it changes with the season, sometimes the month, week, day, or hour.  Some days and weeks I am super motivated to get my ass moving, have tons of energy, and ready to tackle my workouts with enthusiasm.  But other days I hit snooze, hide under the covers when my kids try to wake me up, and stuff my face with avo toast and almond milk lattes.  Sometimes I workout hard just so I can go to Outback later and not feel guilty about stuffing my face with cheese fries.  TRUE STORY!  It’s all about balance right?

Motivation.  I’ve found it’s easier when  I have an ultimate goal to reach.  I have failed miserably when I use a particular weight as my goal.  I’ve learned that I am much happier and more motivated when I am physically training for something.  Most recently it was a half marathon.   By having that marathon hanging over my head, I was motivated to run, to prepare, and to kick my own ass into running shape and get the time I wanted.  The scale hardly showed a change, but my body transformed as I trained harder and I was happy.  It wasn’t easy training (GOD I dreaded those long runs) but I am more disciplined and proud of myself for reaching the goal I set and for shedding that “summer squish” that was so fun putting on!  

Motivation.  I’ve never had a workout I didn’t enjoy… when it was over.  No matter how many excuses I make to not do the damn thing, I am always in a much better place after a good sweat session.   And by better place, I mean I am more patient, kind, compassionate, and in a better “mental state” than before my workout.  You don’t want to meet me in the milk aisle, at Whole Foods, on a packed Sunday afternoon, if I haven’t got a work out in all weekend.  The hour that I spend taking care of myself, both my physical and my mental health, sets the tone for the day and gives me the energy I need to face the challenges I encounter (hello crazy 2 year old that poops in her underwear the second we leave the house).

6am works for me.  I can’t say it works for my hubby, but he puts up with it, because he knows how valuable it is to me.  Find what works for you, what motivates you, find your why, set a goal, and run with it (maybe literally run)!  Something crazy may happen, you might actually like it?!  

What? Squats and Skittles?

Published on by Squats and SkittlesLeave a comment

Squats and skittles, sparkles and sippy cups, plus #momlife is what you’ll find here. IMG_6689  I’m a proud girl mom to Soleil and Cece and a self titled “fitness queen”.   I love challenging myself to be better, whether I’m in the gym, with my kids and hubby, riding my Thoroughbred, or burning the hell out of some roast broccoli.  Balancing it all is a JOKE and that’s what you’ll find here…..a lot of BS, some good workout tips, maybe some shitty recipes, daily mom struggles and triumphs, and a lot of laughter.  Without laughter, life is sad, so cheers to workouts, wine, and writing about it!

Life is better when your laughing.