The familiar buzz of my iPhone jars me awake. It is 5:30 a.m. and the house is still at rest.
Despite the early hour and the temptation to catch a few more minutes of sleep, I slip on my shorts, toss my cap on my head and tiptoe to the garage. My running shoes offer a colorful welcome, and within minutes I am jogging down the gray pavement. The sun plays peek-a-boo behind the mountains while I enjoy the slight chill and the bright pink bougainvillea at the corner of my street.
My morning run is a meditation and a chance to commune with the outdoors. But it offers an unexpected bonus: running makes me a better mother to my 10-year-old daughter.
1. Running helps me carve out time for myself. Motherhood is a full-time commitment. Between juggling a work schedule and running a household, there is little time at the end of the day for me. An early run offers a chance for solitude and clarity. With renewed energy, I pay closer attention to my daughter when I return.
2. My daughter witnesses my commitment to physical fitness. To emphasize fitness, it is vital for me to show my daughter the value of exercise. After I return from my run, my daughter asks, “How many miles did you jog today?” When I skip my run, she questions my reasons. By demonstrating how much I love running, it increases her potential to cultivate a healthier lifestyle in the future.
3. In the trenches of motherhood, an immediate mood booster is a must. Mothering is sometimes overwhelming. Irritation mounts and my mood sours. A short run instantly changes my perspective to a positive tilt. I hope I am showing my daughter that she, too, can cope with life’s stresses by channeling restless energy into uplifting pursuits.
4. Exercise renews my need to fuel my body with proper nutrition. When I run, my diet changes. I skip that can of soda or refrain from eating chocolate after dinner. Because I work out in the morning, I don’t want to sabotage my exercise by indulging in unhealthy caloric food or drink. Eating healthy snacks like carrots and berries helps me convince my daughter to adopt similar habits.
5. Running is an activity I can share with my daughter. Some days I wait to run after my daughter returns from school. Sometimes she likes to exercise with me while I run. We pause to look at different details of the desert landscape and she tells me about her day. It’s a chance to bond with her without the distractions of technology. My hope is that we continue to run together, side by side, through our neighborhood.
