Maeve: One day, my mom came up with the ‘greatest’ idea!!
Mom: I often feel guilty that I allow life’s busy-ness to get in the way of time with my children. To make up for it, I find myself looking for big, special things to do with each of my kids. And I thought I found the perfect big moment to share with Maeve…the Shine Color Run 5K! I mean, what girl wouldn’t love the idea of running freely through color and glitter, alongside her favorite friends (and mother)?
Maeve: Well, I wasn’t so sure about it, but Mom got us all ready for the run. We went to sign up, buy some things in the Color Run store, and get our supply bags!! She even downloaded the Couch to 5K app for us on her phone. I did NOT like it!! Whenever the monotone voice said ‘walk,’ I walked like a zombie (A.K.A very,very,very,very,very,very slowly), and whenever it spoke, ‘run,’ I hardly even jogged!!!
Mom: Yeah, I guess I didn’t really think it through completely. When I get an idea, I just want to go for it! I’m not so good at the thinking it through part. Maeve and I are NOT runners! Honestly, I’ve never understood how people find joy in all that heavy breathing, serious sweating, and repetitive motion. But I didn’t think about any of that. I just thought: Colors! Glitter! FUN!!! It is the #Happiest5K after all.
Maeve: Yep, running is definitely not my thing! Especially when it’s a rainy, cold, moody kind of day. But we’ll get to that later… At last, the day arrived!! The Color Run!!! Although I wasn’t so excited about the running, I did love all of the fun accessories. We put on our Color Run shirts, headbands, and tattoos. Once we were done, we headed outside to get in our car. To see it was, indeed, raining…and cold…and moody…
Mom: It was anything but the perfect day for running a 5K. But I was not going to let the weather bring me down. I was ready for a fun day with my favorite girl and some friends we love!
Maeve: That was not the same with me! Nope!! I mean, when we got there I was fine standing in line- because we were under trees- but when we took off into the rain, goodness NO!! I was running like a stick!!!! (By the way, that means with my arms and legs straight, and all zombie-like!)
Mom: It really was pretty cold and nasty. Our runner friends took off, but we took it a little slower. Thanks to the downpour, the ground had become a mushy mess, and mud consumed most of the color. We were splashing through mud puddles, all popsicle fingers and toes, trying not to choke on the colored powder we couldn’t see being thrown in our direction.
Maeve: I felt more BROWN than colorful, thanks to all that mud. And the worst part of it was that my shoes had “vents” in the bottom for sweaty feet…which means when we were running through the puddles, my feet were literally swimming in a pool of mud. (Note to self: Next time, do not buy shoes with vents.)
Mom: It was so ridiculous, I couldn’t help but laugh the whole time. Maeve, however, did not find it funny at. all. She stayed all stiff-bodied and grumpy-faced through the end. (Which made it even funnier for me!)
Maeve: I was about done with all this nonsense, when suddenly, I saw these huge colorful arches made with big letters saying F-I-N-I-S-H! I just about leaped in the air with excitement! And just in the nick of time, too. I was DONE.
Mom: Those arches were like a beacon of hope. Haha. It was the only time Maeve picked up her pace above lifeless. She sprinted to the finish line, so happy to be done with this mess of an event that her mother had planned. As we crossed the finish line we were each handed a medal, a pack of color, and a pack of silver glitter. Oh yeah, it was time to celebrate!
Maeve: I was SO happy!! After I was handed my medal, I smiled for a picture, joined my runner friends, and partied with the color and glitter packets! It was all going well until… Well let’s just say… Someone threw an opened color packet and the color powder flew into my mouth…
Mom: We enjoyed a little “hang out with our friends NOT running” time, and then we trekked to the car. We were all ready to get home, take a hot shower, and snuggle into our warmest sweats. I think it’s safe to say that Maeve enjoyed the idea of the Color Run together after she was dry and warm at home.
But I learned a lesson from it all. I don’t have to work so hard to create big special moments to enjoy time with my children and show them I love them. (Especially big special moments that involve running in the freezing rain.) I just need to give them time. And attention. To separate myself for a moment from work and cooking and cleaning and give them some eye contact. To pay attention to the little things they want to do and say yes to those more often. So, when we have a second to ourselves and Maeve asks to go to Starbucks (even though I think it’s overpriced and overrated) I need to say yes. Those are the moments that are big and special in their little hearts.
The moments they’ll remember.
The moments that feel like love.
Maeve: Yeah…That’s for sure! Like, for instance, right now we’re sitting at Starbucks writing this. Nothing big, you know, but I love it!!
Anyways, I don’t think we’ll be doing the Shine Color Run this year. Maeve OUT!!!! (Drops mic.) No, literally! I have to go do my homework. Peace out!!
Mom: Drops mic? She’s a mess. I sure do love her.
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