Happy Friday!
In Whole and Healthy Family, Jodi Mockabee talked about taking her kids outside first thing in the morning and having them walk or run together. She believed that if they all got out and exercised earlier, she would feel saner as a mama.
Flash forward; her teens now run miles with her in the morning.
I have been trying it this summer as much as I can, mainly to beat the 90-100-degree weather we have been having here in NC.
One helpful tip she added was that even if a kiddo rode in the stroller, they would usually hop out and run for a minute or two at the end to build up their confidence and stamina to run.
The problem is that not everyone will want to go all the time. So here are some extra ideas for the morning stroll to encourage kids of all ages to come and join:
Ideas for Intentionality:
Ages 0-3: I am a huge Bob stroller fan. I have had a single and a double. The double Bob is on its 9th year, and the buckles are dry-rotted out, but I clasped the buckles with carabiners and moved on, haha. The rest of the stroller works just fine. I found that the drink rack is super handy for keys and phones.
Baby Pro-tip: Pack the baby carrier underneath the stroller in case the baby gets fussy. Just strap the baby on and keep going. The Ergo is the easiest carrier, but my friend gave me her Sakkurabloom carrier, which is excellent and seems lighter to carry.
Ages 2-5: My kids love to use their scooters… for a little while. I usually encourage them to push through and keep going. But if you have a double Bob, you can just lay the scooter across the top, break it down, and store it underneath. My three-year-old climbs in and out of the stroller onto her scooter, but it keeps us all moving forward.
Ages 5-8: The micro scooter is best for 1-3-year-olds, but after that, this scooter holds their weight better. My 6-year-old girl alternates between the scooter, running, walking, and sometimes riding her bike (she is spoiled, and occasionally, big bros will ride her bike home).
Ages 8-10: OK, these are tricky ages because I can tell they don’t always want to come. Oh, but I have some tricks up my sleeve. Sometimes, they need something to tinker with. They might bounce a basketball on the walk and throw a football back and forth to each other; my 8-year-old was throwing this ball on a string to himself and loved it. While I walk, they play in a shallow creek with a net catching tadpoles nearby. They need a purpose for the walk.
Ages 10+: OK, I am not there yet, but consider some 1-on-1 walks to connect and spend time. When I do 1-on-1 walks, I am always surprised by how close I feel to them after 10–20 minutes. They open their hearts and share their hopes and desires. So ask for a walk ❤️
Walks alone: The first walk I did this morning was a slow walk. There was no agenda, no tech, and it was amazing what came to mind and what I noticed I had never seen before. It was just a slow mama inhale before the day began, and then I circled back to grab the crew.
Please don’t underestimate how life-giving a walk can be to clear up and clear out your thoughts and to help your crew feel their best in the summer.
And to quote the Queen from the Crown:
“That’s how I think best: on my feet. I’ve never been one for sitting around endlessly. A good walk and fresh air sort everything out.”
Videos of the Week
Good, Better, Best
Be on the lookout for this video dropping TODAY!
In this video, I am sharing the saying that I try to use in my health journey! And how I apply Good, Better, Best to different areas of health and wellness. Plus, I give a little life update on my flooded kitchen.
What is Actually More Loving as a Mom?
Sending love,
Lana
P.S.
Here is free watercolor homeschool joyful day checklist for you made by @cheersandprayers!
Pregnant P.S.
Behind every natural birth story you have seen were many unseen decisions. The decisions could have been to go against the grain, to risk having people mock their birth plan, to seek out the right birth team, and to prepare themselves with quality birth education. You can’t control everything during birth; it is wild! But you can decide to get prepared, mind, body, and spirit. Let me help you with this journey! After five natural births, I believe I can help you feel prepared and confident to birth naturally.