Friday: Swim, Run, Gilad

My game plan was to ride the trainer early this morning, but like most of my plans to ride the trainer (or get up early, for that matter), it did not happen.  I made it to swim on time, but Young Sloan was determined not to go to the gym nursery, so we had an INCIDENT.  Today's INCIDENT was that I was kicked and Ms. Pat, the wrangler of the gym nursery, was also kicked.  There was yelling and tantruming and the deliberate throwing of the juice cup.  Aahhh, the mess and the noise and my blood pressure, all ramping up at the same time.  It was a cacophony of misery. It was one of those mornings where when I was able to leave the nursery, a full ten minutes after I entered it, I felt like driving straight to the nearest liquor store and slugging whiskey like a cowhand just off a cattle drive at an old west saloon.

Christie Mellor of The Three Martini Play Date suggests that when your child tantrums you should: "Explain that vocalizing at such a high decibel level is not an entertainment option. If your child feels the need to scream out loud, then he must find a secluded closet, or a distant, uninhabited corner of the house, and there he may scream to his little heart's content.  Explain that when he is older, he may go to the train yard, or down to a freeway overpass, or a psychiatrist's office, and scream at passing trains, vehicles or psychiatrist: but until that glorious day has arrived, screaming must be a private pursuit."

I think that Christie Mellor has so much common sense wisdom, and this morning I understood her desire for three martinis at a time.  I went to that place this morning.  Anyway, no one ever tells you how to address the tantrum when you are away from home and late for class.  I would have dearly loved to hide my child in a closet and let him scream the house down, but alas that is not acceptable parenting.

I finally left class and got to the pool deck in my new competition bikini, where I found we had no coach.  So we all made up a workout and got down to business.  I swam 3000 meters, and climbed out of the pool and showered and such.  When I returned to the nursery, Young Sloan was happily playing on the floor with a wide array of toys as if there had been no horrible tantrum.

After swim, I headed home and spent the afternoon cleaning the house and going for a run.  I must say that I felt better about my whole morning once I had had a solitary run.  I got in a Gilad workout in the afternoon.  Rejoining my running group tomorrow!!