Training as a mother

Training as a mother is hard. Very hard. I got a quick glimpse back in 2009 when I watched Jen Thompson bench at my first powerlifting meet (watched, not participated) after she had one of her sons. She is amazing. I also lift in a gym full of mothers. Every.single.one.of.them. is amazing (As is my gym, who is very understanding of parents).

Why?

Because they lift?

NO.

Because they had a baby?

NO.

Because they are strong?

NO.

Why?

These mothers make it work. I never hear a reason why they cannot get training in. If they don't make it, they often make sure they get it in the next day.

Today, which happens to be #womencrushwednsday per the social media goes out to these women:

A single mom of three kids who works full time and lifts and is in nursing school. She can be a little obsessive, but she has been doing my husband's program and is getting amazingly stronger.

A new mother of a one year old who's spouse competes regularly in CF. They actually swap out times so one can attend a class while the other watches the baby. I also have secretly watched the spouse coach his wife and have watched her lifts go up.

A mother of two teenage kids who volunteers and has two teenage kids (three if you include the spouse) and a full time job and somehow manages to have a smoking body and some legit lifts for her bodyweight.

A mother who has a sick child and lifts while the kids are at school and does all sorts of extra activities for them and the kiddos and has lost weight while increasing lifts.

A mother who is trying to start her own side biz, has a full time job, two grown kids and competes and is now adding a blog and weight loss.

A single mother of three kids who also works full time and has recently decided to take on a devoted program to get stronger.

When I listed these I decided to be detailed and then move to less detailed- why? Because everyday I have excuses as to why I don't want to do something and then I look at these women and while I don't say anything they are doing a good job. They are getting stronger and setting a prime example for their kids while doing a ton of stuff I don't often see.

Don't get me wrong, kids are wonderful BUT training without them is even better. The added stress of worry with kids and if they have it togeather can be a little overwhelming when you add 255 X 2 X 2 front squats to do that night.

I would also like to give a shout out to my IG mothers. So many of them manage to do the same thing and help/support others in their ventures PLUS take the time to chart their progress.

To end my quick rant, my #wcw today is to all the Mommies who in the midst of running/lifting/working out has had to stop and refill a juice, tell their husband where their power panties are and/or have given a form of sugar to occupy the kids while you get some HITT in.