Small & Mighty

I really had to try very hard to drag myself to the gym today.  It was pretty much the last thing I wanted to do today.  I triumphed though... I really really wanted a PSL today, but I did have to earn it.

So I'm doing my thing... working out or whatever, and I notice a woman working out.  I had seen her before.  She's probably no more than 5'2", longish strawberry blonde hair with a pretty mean tan going on that almost hides her freckles.  She's working out on the weight machines and really in the zone.  Oh and she's about 9 months pregnant - and she still does the row machine.  I could not help but peek over every now and then, because, seriously, how does the row machine work, logistically, in that scenario?  She finished up and was getting ready to go, and I was impressed.  Not because a prego was working out and all that, but because she was working out regularly.  I was no where in that zone when I was pregnant.  Working out was the last thing on my mind!  I'm finally getting there, but it's taken 5 years.  She obviously has a system, and a pretty good one at that.

I notice she goes into the childcare area.  I thought to myself she must have a couple of kids that she brings along.  Then they start coming out and I count: " one, two, three, four ... SEVEN?"  There are seven of them and one on the way!  ( I think seven - I might have lost count).  Some of them are school aged.  So now for the assumptions and the subsequent awe I have for this woman.  She has seven children, she will have one more in the next month or so, she homeschools, and she works out.  I'm counting on my fingers how many hours that must take in order to try to figure out when she sleeps.  I've decided she must not sleep, except she looks fabulous and glowy and tan and young.  No bags no wrinkles, nothing (so I was more than peeking over every now and then).

I am sure she has her drag her bed out of days, but man, you can't tell me managing all of that isn't amazing and a life skill that could translate into the business world.  I doubt she would ever want to do that, however, these are the things that women deal with when they stay at home.  Staying at home for some period of time does not mean we don't do anything or lose skills (despite what V may think - I do not just stay home and lay in bed all day until bus stop time).  Women need to figure out how to market that experience when they return to the work force, should they choose to return.  I have seen my fair share of temper tantrums in the work environment, and I can say I have used some of the same tactics with co-workers as I have used for children.  Just saying.