Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Track Star Triumphs Over Stressed Mommy

Hmm, chronological order means mommy stress comes first . . .

So yesterday, our daycare e-mailed out the summer schedule. And apparently once a week they are doing "bring your lunch to daycare" day. You wouldn't think this would be that stressful, but it sort of freaked me out. I mean, I have to buy Sophie a lunch box and then once a week pack it with some sort of lunch that (1) isn't so lame that she gets teased by the other kids and (2) isn't so unhealthy that our daycare lady calls child protection.

I went to Walmart straight from work and found an acceptable lunch box (slim pickings this time of year). I also looked at their toddler swimsuits because they are supposed to have a swimsuit that can stay at daycare all summer. You wouldn't think it possible, but all of the swimsuits in the 18-month size at Walmart are made for toddler whores. Every single one of them.

I left Walmart and headed to the track, determined to run out my feelings of being convinced I am a bad mother and convinced that Walmart is indeed the evil empire. First 800: still nervous about whether packing a Lunchable in Sophie's new Cars lunchbox will make daycare lady judge me (they are pretty high in sodium). Second 800: if I'm already this worked up about stuff and Sophie isn't even two, what am I going to be like when she goes to school? I need therapy. Third 800: hey, I just lapped that chick. And she doesn't even look like she is running that slow. Fourth 800: I lapped her again. Awesome. Fifth 800: wow, I'm getting tired. But not too bad for my first speed workout since the marathon. Sixth 800: Just make it to the last straightaway, you're almost done.

So there you have it. Proof that running indeed does calm the nerves and reduce and release stress. I should have been a scientist.

** Oh, by the way, I know that this whole lunch issue is not something I should have stressed about to begin with. But I'm sort of lame like that.

13 comments:

Marcy said...

Shiz I feed my kids Lunchables every so often. Why not?

X-Country2 said...

Toddler whores indeed. I say some cute ones at Old Navy.

Anonymous said...

What, you are not preparing a ham sandwich with pesto spread, chipotle mayonnaise, and mixed greens on wheat? You are a horrible, horrible mother and I would not heistate to call CPS on you if I was the daycare lady. :-)

Is daycare really that snarky?

Some great 800s though!

ShutUpandRun said...

Like Jamoosh I would call CPS except that you redeemed yourself and didn't buy that whorish swim suit.

I Run for Fun said...

If it makes you feel any better, I find packing lunch for myself stressful enough!

Nice speedwork! Glad it helped work away the stress.

Marlene said...

Nothing like a good track workout to unwind and destress!

joyRuN said...

RIGHT??? Between the skimpy swimsuits & teeny hip-hugging shorts, WTH am I supposed to dress my daughter in?

Whatever junk I pack in my kids' lunches, I always throw in a yogurt or apple slices for appearance's sake ;)

Mel-2nd Chances said...

lol at joyRuN's comment... yep, throw in a fruit :)

Anonymous said...

I think we all could use a little therapy! I hear you on the bathing suits. Can't we just let our kids be kids.

Erika said...

LOL at JoyRuN! Yeah, I give Shoo a cheesestick and apples with his cereal bar and cheese pretzels. Guess what's always left when he comes home? LOL

Glad the run worked for you.

MCM Mama

Felice Devine said...

LOL at the toddler whore idea. Every time I see the crazzzzzzy toddler girl clothes I'm grateful for the boring boy clothes that my son wears.

Nice work on the 800s!!!

Running Through Life said...

I ma glad you were able to work out your aggressions and leave that other person in the dust. Sorry about the slim pickings on lunch boxes and swim wear.

M2Marathon said...

Walmart is indeed an evil empire. Try Target (found cute soft vinyl lunch boxes there and they happen to be on clearance right now...also, they have normal-looking one piece swimsuits for your little angel).

Lunchables are acceptable (just picked up two of them last night for MY little angel who has to take not just her own lunch but an entirely disposable lunch twice a week when they go on her daycare's "field trips" around town. So now she doesn't even get to use that dang lunchbox!).

And the solution to stressing about this stuff? Have another child. You don't have time/energy to stress about the little stuff anymore. And you really come to love the statement, "you get what you get and you don't throw a fit" a lot more.:-) Good luck!