Tag! You're it!

I don't know about anyone else, but in my mind, I am someone I don't always see in the mirror...   I a tend to think I am much younger than my true age ~  without new, pale age spots on my hands, without the tiny lines starting to crack around my eyes.  Without the gray hair that threatens to re-appear after every washing.  I am that younger girl who was always moving - for as long as I remember I would consider myself a mover - not a sitter.  I don't have many memories of my childhood that don't involve roller skates on my feet, swimming silently underwater, a tennis ball or softball glove in my hand, or my bike letting me fly down a hill.   In Jr High and HS, it was Basketball, Tennis, Track, Cheerleading and Softball.  In college, a day rarely passed that I didn't visit the Nat, or the SERF to workout or walk along the beautiful paths by Lake Mendota in Madison. 

Then came a full time job....wedded bliss...and 3 babies in 5 years.   I lost my inner athlete.  I always wanted to move faster, but just didn't....  I wasn't being the example I wanted to be for my kids.  My children label me as their Mom, the one who throws great birthday parties, makes dinner, washes their clothes, loves them with all her heart.  The joke in my family is, I never sit.  When I do occasionally sit to watch a movie, everyone looks at me like I dyed my hair purple.  "What??  Mom is sitting down??"   But when I am up, it is just being busy. 

Last week, I received one of the most wonderful surprises.  I logged onto my Facebook, and saw that I had been tagged by Hannah, my 10 year old, in one of those Tag Your Pals grids.  uh oh...  I was a little nervous.    Was I the "whiner", or "loud one" or "messy one"????

She tagged me "THE ATHLETE".  Me.  Her Mom.  On the heels of watching her Daddy's beloved Vikings.  In the midst of the Olympics filled with unbelieveable achievements and skill.  She sees me as an Athlete.  She now sees what I feel.  A Mom, Wife, Cookie Baker, Birthday Party Thrower, Scout leader.....and Athlete.  Bless her sweet little heart.   It is the role model I want to be....