When the girls started doing gymnastics pretty rigorously, we slowly put together a small gym for them in the basement. Nothing major, but we got a small beam, a horizontal bar, and some other items that they could use to work on skills. About a year ago, I began to piece together a small workout area in the same room. With my venture into CrossFit, I obtained some of the equipment I needed, too. When I change to workout, they can't wait to ask, "Daddy are you going to the basement?" The following squeals are deafening. They like to go downstairs to work on their own, but when I go down there it is like a bonus for them. I took something down to the basement tonight and saw this:
Since I started doing CrossFit, the girls get so excited to see what I am doing and new exercises. They see me put workouts on the white board or write them on my hand. "Daddy, what is that called? Daddy how do you do that?" Those questions seemed to be asked on a regular basis.
I know we try to instill this excitement in our students each day. We spend a lot of time designing intricate lessons to motivate students in the classroom. I love teaching, but I can honestly say that the pleasure I get out of teaching my own kids cannot match it. I get such a charge out of seeing them design their own workouts and know at such a young age what to do and how to accomplish it. Make sure you take the time to work with your own.......sometimes we get so wrapped up in what we do at school that our own get shortchanged.
Recently, I made some changes in my life that will allow me to be home a little more. I can't wait for more squeals and little feet on the basement stairs. Hopefully, I'll find some more white boards, too.