A few weeks ago an email popped into my inbox from the speed skating club — E., who teaches the Masters class, would be running a summer dryland training course if enough people were interested. There was a link to a survey at the bottom of the email where you could show your expressed interest.
When I first filled out the survey, under ‘Number of family members interested’ I selected ‘two’.
As my hand hovered over the mouse to click send, I sat back in my chair and imagined what it would be like running sprints with elementary aged schools kids, or worse, doing squats with teens, and switched the ‘two’ to a ‘one’. Then I emailed E., and asked her to tell me if any other parents were interested in doing it because I was but also didn’t want to be the only mom out there running around in a field with kids.
Even I have my limitations and working out with a group of people, all of whom I could have birthed — including the person training us — makes the Top Ten.
It’s funny, when you’re a kid, you can’t wait to grow up. I remember thinking 24 was old and how I would be married with kids before I reached a quarter of a century. 42, slowly moving in on 43? Ancient. Nowadays, when I see a policeman or doctor, for a split second I wonder how it is that they are so young before it occurs to me that, no, they aren’t training them at a younger age–it is me who is older.
The whole thing is just weird because in my head, I’m still in my 20′s. Yet I know there are younger people out there who view me as old just like I did when I was their age. How is it even possible I’m at an age where I need to check the 40 – 45 age group in a survey?
As luck would have it, it turns out some other adults are interested in training so I’ll be showing up in workout gear, ready to go–just in case.
Or maybe I’ll just do it anyway. Because in 20 years I’ll look back and think about how young I was.
OH I know! I’m totally still just twentysomething in my head and in the way I do things. The fact that I’m an adult with major responsibilities… weird. I feel like I’m just playing house but I’m not, it’s real life… and as for young looking doctors OMG. Are they supposed to make me blush and switch from my female OB-GYN to a newer version?
JUST KIDDING!!!
I know! It’s weird, right? That kids (and it kills me to say kids) in their 20′s view us as old. And the responsibilities? A mortgage? Keeping kids alive Every. Single. Day?
How does that even happen?
This post made me smile… then I scrolled through the comments and Mara’s made me burst out laughing! Thanks for the morning laugh ladies.
Mara’s boobs always make a post better.
Think of it this way… You’re older than me (by a year or 2) and you can TOTALLY kick my ass!
Yes, but you have a sword. So we’re actually sort of even.
True. A sword is a great equalizer.
Do it!! Sounds super fun & the kids will love you.
Of course YOU would say that Miss Fitness Queen.
I do this too. In my mind, I’m a lot younger than I actually am. I look at actors in tv shows (cops or doctors or other people in responsible positions) and to me they seem much older than I am. Then I check their ages on imdb and I am usually completely shocked to find they’re younger than me…
Life’s not fair
Yes, the whole aging thing was not in any of my plans.
Listen, soon I’m going to have to tick off the 44-50 age group. And that ticks me off. But, so what? My brains say 20 even if my boobs say 44. Guess who’s smarter?
I’m going to go with your brains?
Let’s hope so. Because as a 32 A, if my boobs were smarter, I’d be in big trouble.
Definitely do it! I’ve been to a dryland practice or two where I could have been everyone’s mother….heck, I’ve been in races where I could have been everyone’s mother! Something to be proud of, I always think (oh, and by the way…42 is not old. Try being 48…50 is looming awfully close!)
I love that about you Kaari – you just go out there like a bunny on crack!
Wait…we’re supposed to tick off the 40-45 age box?
Only on surveys. If you tick real life 40 to 45 boxes you may get arrested.