Recently I had a conversation with my youngest daughter about how children have changed just since I started doing child care in 1993. But then that got me to thinking about how adults have changed too.

I look around at all the distractions that we did not have 25 years ago. Computers, e-mail, phones, tablets, we cannot get away from them. I know that I personally feel weird if my cell phone is not within my reach. How much of our distractions have to do with the way children have changed? Today, I ask you to consider that in your interactions with your children. Children will seek attention and if they do not get it, they will often escalate their behavior to make sure they have our attention.

Just something to think about…where is your attention today? 

Well for some reason when I posted this yesterday, the text of my post didn't make it through. So here goes!

In March, I set a goal for myself to do some kind of exercise and movement everyday. I made it! We are getting ready to start a new month so I'm challenging myself to a new goal, exercise everyday in April and bump it up to 30 minutes per day three days per week. 

Who wants to join me in a challenge? You can set your own goals and we'll encourage each other. E-mail me or comment here and we will work together to meet our goals!

The opposite of play is not work, it is depression-Brian Sutton-Smith.

 

I love this quote! It is so true. I’ve been thinking a lot about depression the last few days. It is such a vicious cycle. Exercise helps depression, but when you’re depressed, you don’t want to exercise.  Since I re-injured my foot last fall, I had fallen out of the habit of exercising again. Even though my foot was doing better, I had not started back up with an exercise routine. Tom and I determined we were getting back in the habit so every day this month; I have done some kind of movement. This has included shoveling snow, workout videos, and just plain old walks. No excuses! I was gone to a child care conference Saturday; I went out during lunch break and took a walk. I was tired and overslept Sunday before church, took a walk Sunday afternoon. Tom and I get up and work out together at 4:30, but with the time change this week, 4:30 a.m. has felt like 3:30 a.m. to our bodies. NO excuses! We’ve rolled out of bed and done it every day! Has it been easy? No, definitely not. Have I felt better for it? I certainly have. So, start wherever you are and move! Take a short walk, find a five minute workout video on You Tube, just do what you can!