Monday, August 25, 2008

Weekend update: Missing my babies

Since I've never done anything like this before, I can only surmise that this happens to everyone. There is only five weeks left until the MS150, and I'm getting frustrated. I'm frustrated because all of my free time is spent on a bicycle and I miss my kids. Because my husband and I both work full time during the week, we get a grand total of about 3 hours a day with them (not counting middle of the night visits). Weekends are our only family time and this entire summer I have spent the better part of every single weekend riding my bike.

When we came home from our ride yesterday, Sophia was sitting at the kitchen table eating lunch with my aunt (who has watched the kids every single weekend this entire summer. Without her help we would never be able to do this ride). She looked up from her chicken nuggets and macaroni and cheese, smiled and said, "Mommy home! I miss you."

I miss you too, honey.

I really, really do.

But I feel like I'm getting better and I want to finish this ride and I will not be able to do so if I don't train. I want to finish the ride because I can. I can when so many people cannot, especially many who are afflicted by Multiple Sclerosis. No, it is not a bike ride across the country and it's a far cry from the Tour de France, but it's my goal, and 150+ mile bike ride over two days is nothing to take lightly. I am not the best, the fast or even the rider who has raised the most money, but I am a rider.

But I am also a mother … a mother who misses spending time her children … two children who are growing up way too fast.

This will all be over soon and I want to keep riding, it is fantastic exercise and is really helping me get back into shape. But I'm hoping to bring it down a notch or two. Instead of riding 85 miles over the weekend (whoo hoo, that is what we did this weekend!!), we'll put the kids in a bike trailer or get a carrier for them and take them for a leisurely ride.

Do you have a love/hate relationship with anything that takes you away from your family? How do you manage?

2 comments:

Carol said...

It's almost over and you are doing a terrific job and helping other in such a great way.

DD Ramona said...

Tell you what, cycling is a group thing for my family. Or rather my parents and my brother, as I haven't successfully ridden a bike since I was 6 years old. (I drive the team car.)

But I'm doing a "duathalon" with my Mom in a year, so I'm going to learn. (When I come into work on crutches, you'll know how it's going.) Once the kids get a set of wheels each, it'll be awesome. And then Team Cicconi challenges you guys to a race.