My daughter drew this picture while we were waiting for her camp bus yesterday morning.
Camp has been great for the kids, but lately I have described my youngest as coming home a “monster child”. Kids have a hard time admitting fatigue. Funny how when we get older, it can be the same way. We go, go, go until we are worn out. We are exhausted yet we won’t admit it and we keep going until we get grumpy. Kids have so much energy. They are playing, drawing, running, sporting, and this week, rock climbing, paddling and trampolining! And still they want to do more, and never want to go to bed. They will even get angry if you suggest that they look tired. ”I am NNOOOTTT tired mom!!”. And then 30 seconds later they are literally passed out on their dinner plate. I guess this is a good tired but enduring the minutes up until the crash is difficult sometimes. As a parent we learn to recognize this kind of fatigue and give the kid a little slack. It would be good to recognize our own fatigue this way, gently. We have more awareness of it as an adult, but don’t seem to do anything about it. We learn that doing more is better, even when it begins to effect our mood and function, and even our health. For some people it takes a huge wake up call to learn to listen to their bodies. I mentioned in an earlier post about awareness that tightness is one of the precursor signs to pain and injury. So fatigue is also one of those signs…and illness can be the result.
Awareness is a form of listening. The body is what you are listening to.
Be a good listener.
And then make a good choice.
