Taking Responsibility

Sometimes taking responsibility means that you choose to do what’s best for you and sometimes it means choosing to look out for the best interests of someone else. It can even mean giving care to an animal. One of the classic ways a parent tries to instill responsibility in a child is to give them some of the responsibility for the care of a pet. Along the lines of caring for something helpless, I thought you might enjoy this blog that follows the story of the rescue of a baby coyote.

Today I head to Arkansas for my son’s gymnastic meet. When did I realize that I’d be making this ten-hour round trip? Yesterday. This is my sixth child and he has the wondrous belief that there are always people looking after him, keeping track of schedules and events, and that just generally have his back. When my oldest daughter was his age and there were five equally busy siblings below her she quickly figured out that if she wasn’t going to be late for an event, have all her forms turned in on time, etc. that she would have to take some of the responsibility. If this had been her meet there would have been reminders on the refrigerator and sticky notes everywhere.

Research shows that oldest children are high achievers becoming astronauts and curing cancer. Parents of more than one child have a pretty good idea how they got that way. They were helping us. It’s that simple.

I realize that some of you may be alarmed to find that I can forget things like school picture day and I admit that I would never be making such a confession if I didn't know the basics were covered. Inspite of never shellacking fruit for a centerpiece ala Martha Stewart, my children all at least eat their fruits and vegetables (and that may be as far as I can go on that list since three are vegetarians). But my point is I adore my children and more importantly even as teenagers and as they become adults I respect them.

I think I got some of the big jobs done like: instilling values, teaching responsibility, giving them confidence, teaching respect for others, and giving them freedom to be different from me and to follow their own dreams. As to the details, let me point out that both my husband and I are youngest children so… yep, we can use all the help we can get (and secretly expect).

You may attack your fitness goals like a firstborn attacks their problems. You have a list of goals, you've checked out the credentials of the personal trainers, know the class schedule by heart and you keep a fitness journal. Forgive my stereotypes, but you may be more like the happy-go-lucky youngest who thinks he’ll buy a gym membership and then someone will see to it that he first has goals and then succeeds at them. Middle children who love approval and comraderie are often everybody’s buddy in the gym and in the classes.

Whatever your strengths and weaknesses you’ll find there is a place for you at a local gym, on a runner's or bike club, at a local tennis tournament or any other group you aspire to join. Other people will assist you, inspire you, and make you work harder than you would alone. Fitness buddies become like family. We really do need each other.