Light the Fire for Your Kids NOW! You too! Happy Bday Bethe!
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
First, I have to say HAPPY BDAY to my sister Bethe! Here she is with her dog, Rubi. If you saw Rubi in person, she always looks like she is smiling. Too funny! Anyway, my sis has been a rock for me.. thank you!!!! I know she will not see this till late or tomorrow as she is part of the political process in her state of Ohio & as a leader, she has been working non stop for weeks & months on end. SO, VOTE TODAY!!!! Your vote counts! See my post yesterday! AND, for those that think they can't stay in shape as you age, my sister is 57 years old. Now, I bet you would not have guessed that! I KNOW, she looks great!
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Saw this quote & felt compelled to share it as I think it says a lot! I am sure many of you have seen commercials or even have watched some of those shows like Toddlers & Tiaras, child beauty pageants. Parents many times living vicariously thru their children... not always but I bet a lot. Same with sports or other activities that maybe the parents want the children to do but the kids, not so much. Yes, make them try some things but after a few tries, if they really feel like they don't like it or want to do it, let them move on & find their own way. Kids are smarter than we give them credit for about these things.
My feeling is as long as we expose them to a variety of things in life & help them, not lead them, things can be amazingly wonderful! Light the fire, encourage them, encourage imagination & discussion.... don't stuff them with your dreams.. let them create their own dreams!
Moving this into the health & fitness arena, if we surround the kids with healthy behaviors, play, healthy eating habits from early on & let them see & learn from that rather than stuffing it down their throat, I really believe that kids would have a better relationship with food & staying active.
If we light the fire early, the flame can live on with them & hopefully we can beat this obesity crisis & the health issues facing these kids at way too early an age.
AND, while you are lighting the fire for the kids, why not yourself as well!!!!
Give it some thought & please feel free to share your thoughts!
First, I have to say HAPPY BDAY to my sister Bethe! Here she is with her dog, Rubi. If you saw Rubi in person, she always looks like she is smiling. Too funny! Anyway, my sis has been a rock for me.. thank you!!!! I know she will not see this till late or tomorrow as she is part of the political process in her state of Ohio & as a leader, she has been working non stop for weeks & months on end. SO, VOTE TODAY!!!! Your vote counts! See my post yesterday! AND, for those that think they can't stay in shape as you age, my sister is 57 years old. Now, I bet you would not have guessed that! I KNOW, she looks great!
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|
― François Rabelais |
Saw this quote & felt compelled to share it as I think it says a lot! I am sure many of you have seen commercials or even have watched some of those shows like Toddlers & Tiaras, child beauty pageants. Parents many times living vicariously thru their children... not always but I bet a lot. Same with sports or other activities that maybe the parents want the children to do but the kids, not so much. Yes, make them try some things but after a few tries, if they really feel like they don't like it or want to do it, let them move on & find their own way. Kids are smarter than we give them credit for about these things.
My feeling is as long as we expose them to a variety of things in life & help them, not lead them, things can be amazingly wonderful! Light the fire, encourage them, encourage imagination & discussion.... don't stuff them with your dreams.. let them create their own dreams!
Moving this into the health & fitness arena, if we surround the kids with healthy behaviors, play, healthy eating habits from early on & let them see & learn from that rather than stuffing it down their throat, I really believe that kids would have a better relationship with food & staying active.
If we light the fire early, the flame can live on with them & hopefully we can beat this obesity crisis & the health issues facing these kids at way too early an age.
AND, while you are lighting the fire for the kids, why not yourself as well!!!!
Give it some thought & please feel free to share your thoughts!
Posted by truth2beingfit at 11/1/2010 9:00 PM 
Categories: Child obesity, Challenges, Motivation/Support, Family, Dieting, Inspiration, Inspirational Quotes
Tags: body image Diets inspirational quotes inspiration childhood obesity birthdays family children vote 2010
Categories: Child obesity, Challenges, Motivation/Support, Family, Dieting, Inspiration, Inspirational Quotes
Tags: body image Diets inspirational quotes inspiration childhood obesity birthdays family children vote 2010
Thanks Jody!!! Guess what?? I'm still awake from Monday getting prepared for Tuesday, so I saw your post and b-day wishes!!! I will be busy today/tomorrow, but will be hoping for my b-day wishes to come true. Thanks for your good thoughts and wishes. I'll hope to have time to talk with you soon!! xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo, me
PS: isn't Rubi a cutie pie??
Now, back to work!!
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HAPPPPY BIRTHDAY BETHE!!!
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Happy Birthday to Bethe!!
And...reading what you've written about kids - it reminds of what what I see all too often. Parents living their own dream through their kids. And...the kids just not have a great experience because of that. It's great to expose kids to lots of different opportunities....and then...I really believe it's about letting the kids listen to what feels right to them (in sports, in eventual career/college choices, etc, etc). And then - as parents (and as caring adults) - we can support them in the decisions they make...
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Oh yes...light a fire and light one for myself....That my dear is the million dollar answer. To change your life, you have to have a fire lit to stay motivated......
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Jules, YUP!
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I'm rekindling my own flame these days. Lots of fun!
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Cammy, it sure sounds that way!
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I'll be honest and say that I did not do this for my boys. I WILL say, I think I have been a great mom in most every other way that matters and it has always been key to me that my boys know I love them unconditionally and am always here for them. But, when they were young and impressionable, I did not feed them well and I did not even exercise myself then. The boys both were started in sports and one still plays several rec sports but neither seems to view fitness as a lifestyle thing, despite now having two parent role models. Would I go back and do this differently? Yes, I would.
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Lance, what a great comment & just reading your blog tells us what a fantastic example you set!
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Happy BDay to Bethe.
Firs stay lit when they are kept fed with stuff that burns... every day we need to feed the fore within us to be better and better. An untended fire will fizzled out. This we learn as life ages, sharing this with those we love; a responsible act worthy of doing.
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Yes, Patrick, feed the fire!!!!
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Happy B-Day fellow Scorpio! I went to the Ohio State University and loved my time in Columbus! Funny how Ohio and Florida have become so pivotal in national elections.
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Happy birthday to your sister! WOW!! No, it is almost impossible to believe she is 57!!! Holy smokes! I thought she looked in her 30s.
I love that quote! It reminds me of a similar quote that I heard while homeschooling my daughter years ago and fits in my philosophy of education. A quote by William Butler Yeats "Education is not filling a bucket, but lighting a fire"
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I love that quote!!!! Thx for sharing!!!
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Happy Birthday, Bethe! (And your dog is so cute -- reminds me of my Heidi-girl).
We try to not overwhelm our kids (and selves) with too many activities. We want them to have time to be kids, play with their friends and toys, etc. One area I am putting my foot down on, though, is music. I want them to learn to play something. I emphasize to them that I want them to learn for their own benefit even if they never perform for others. I hope for this skill to bring them peace and comfort -- kind of a food for the soul.
So many times I hear adults (including myself) say they wished they had kept up their music lessons. My oldest two are learning the piano. They role their eyes when I say it's time to practice, but they do. They have a kind, patient teacher. I notice as they get better, their enthusiasm to play increases. My 10 y.o. even volunteers to play at school for his classroom! So, I know it sort of sounds like it's my dream, but I just don't want my kids to be one of those adults that say, "Gee, I wish my parents didn't give up on me when I complained about practicing."
Something else -- as I'm learning to cook and prepare real foods, I'm teaching my kids. They enjoy cooking and are more willing to eat what they prepare.
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Gina... I think if you can set a spark, that is a good thing & then let them go from there... yes, as one gets better, we sure like it better, don't we!
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