I have so many thoughts going on in my head right now.  I'm hoping they make some sense when put down.  I'm having such a hard time that kids have to grow up so fast.  Yesterday, Owen had to bring a note home from school that he had written to a girl in his class.  Apparently there was some altercation and he had gotten in trouble.  He had reacted to something that the girl had done and ended up having to write a note of apology to her, that he had to bring home and have us sign.  It sounds like the girl and another boy that was involved didn't get in trouble.  Owen had a hard time with that.  We talked about how he can't worry about what others do, and if they get in trouble for it.  All he can do anything about is what he does and how he reacts to what others do.  Definitely something that I think kids need to learn.

Here's my problem.  The situation was something that teachers in my day wouldn't have even thought twice about.  I remember having "arguments" about who's brother/sister was stronger and who could beat up who.  I remember teasing each other and just basically being kids.  Now there are so many rules about how you can touch other kids, how you can talk to other kids, what you can bring to school, etc.  I think it's so hard to just let your kids be kids.  They have songs like "Let Them Be Little" by Lonestar, but how can you really do that.  Even if you let them be kids in your home, there are still so many rules put on them at school.

I do understand why they are needed.  Last Friday, there was a threat at our high school.  They ended up evacuating the whole high school (in 8 minutes!!) and looking for students with weapons and bombs.  I know that things happen and there is a need for stricter rules now than when I was in school.  I'm just having a hard time with it.  I don't want to have to explain to my 8 year old how some kids say things that he said, and then act on them, or worse.  I know that Owen wouldn't do anything, but his teacher doesn't know that.  We had to talk about the bomb threat and how some kids don't know how to act appropriately, for whatever reason.  We talked about how he has to think about his actions and make sure that they are appropriate and follow all of the rules.

I guess I think back to 9/11 and how things changed after that.  How security got tighter at the airports and people were more cautious and wary.  It's hard to have more rules, but I know that they are in place to make us safer.  I know that's how the rules are in the schools, too.  It's hard for me to see them have more rules and not be able to just be kids, but I know the rules are for their safety.  I just think it's easier to understand when you're an adult, than when you are a kid.

I'm not sure if this even makes sense, I just had to get some thoughts down and out of my head.

On a brighter side, I went on my first run with my new shoes today.  I was worried they wouldn't be broken in enough, but they felt great.  It was so fun to get out early in the morning and get some exercise.  I can tell I'm getting stronger and it feels good.  I have hope that I'll be ready to run a 5k on the 4th of July.

1.  I am grateful that my life is good.  I am grateful that I have people in it that love me and that I can love.  I am grateful that I have the health and ability to take care of things in my own life and also to help out others.

2.  I am grateful that I am given the opportunity to see how my "gratitude blogs" help me find things to be grateful for, even when life isn't always fabulous.  It really has helped a lot.

3.  I am grateful that my sister got me on the program c25k.  I love feeling like I'm getting stronger.  I am liking exercising in the morning.  It helps me feel like moving more throughout the day.

4.  I am grateful for a mom who will let me call and cry/vent to her and still love me.

5.  I am grateful that my kids enjoy riding their bikes to school.  Owen is getting so much better on his bike, riding it at least twice a day.

Tonight was the family fun run for our elementary school.  As Owen pointed out, this wasn't just a fun run, it was a whole family fun night.  We ran around the playground for a mile, ate a potato dinner, and socialized.  Way fun!!  Nathan brought the dogs and they ran with Owen, Jo and Nathan.  Apparently Abbie kept Jo going (except Jo says she had to pull Abbie along at the end) and Jo finished quite a bit ahead of Nathan and Owen.  Abbie was pretty tired, she came and laid down by me and put her head in my lap.  She didn't move for quite a while.  Zoey and I actually got to run first.  We kept each other going.  She thought she was going to die at the end, but she didn't.  And once she got water, she was good to go.  The kids all got a water bottle filled with goodies for finishing their mile.

I realized tonight that I am NOT ready to run a full mile.  I'm happy to be where I'm at on the c25k program.  Sometimes I feel like I could go a little more, but I feel like I'm getting stronger and I'm getting better at a steady pace.  So, about c25k, today was day 2 of week2.  I am feeling pretty good.  I've realized that if I stretch out before and after my runs, I can tell I worked out, but I'm not dying.  Last Tuesday, I did think I was going to die, though.  I woke up and I didn't hurt as bad as I did the day before, but as the day went on, my pain got worse and worse.  My hips felt like they were on fire and I could hardly walk by the end of the day.  I wasn't sure how I was going to run the next day.  I IM'd my sister and she told me that her pain was even worse on days that she did her long run.  I didn't want to quit, but I had to do something different.  I had stretched out and everything.  Then, I got ready for bed.  I took off my shoes and went to walk downstairs.  My hip pain was gone.  My stupid shoes were the culprit!!  I had been wearing cheapy Target shoes to run in until I could get some better shoes.  I had worn them all day.  I decided that night that I needed to order new shoes. 

I originally ordered them from Zappos.com because I heard they had a great return policy.  I found out the next day that I can't wear the shoes outside before returning them.  I wasn't sure how to test running shoes without running in them.  I then found RoadRunnerSports.com.  They have at least a 60 day return policy that you can run in your shoes and still return them.  I ordered those the next day and the Zappos shoes will be going back (good thing they have a good return policy!!).  The shoes from Road Runner were actually cheaper, too (same shoes).  And I got them a day early (today!).  So, I'm trying to break them in before my run on Wednesday.  I wore them to the fun run tonight and they feel pretty good.  A few spots that I was worried about are already loosening up.

And now for some awesomely amazing news.  Owen learned to ride his bike today!!!  This is a BIG deal!!  He is 8 and a BIG kid.  People ask me often if he is 12.  He is wearing size 14 pants.  I love having a big boy.  The problem is, I can't find a bike that has training wheels for him.  We got him an awesome motorcycle bike off craigslist that is pretty awesome.  At the end of last month, the cub scouts had a pack meeting with a bike rodeo.  Owen had to use a scooter.  He had no idea how to ride a bike.  The next day, he decided to try sitting on the bike and pushing off with his feet.  Over the last two weeks, he has moved from that to actually riding his bike.  He still needs a little confidence, but he can ride from one street to the next on our block.  He's learning to turn corners.  The best thing is that he knows he's awesome.  He's SO proud (thanks in part to his grandma and her "Proud of You" song - Thanks, Mom!!).  I'm so proud of him, too.  I told him today that I've been looking forward to family bike rides.  Zoey can ride a bike with training wheels.  I'm seeing some bike riding in our future.

1.  I am grateful that my family is patient with me.  I'm glad that they aren't upset when I go riding my bike, or to a family fun run instead of cleaning my much neglected house.

2.  I am grateful that we all went to the fun run tonight.  It was SO fun to get out and socialize, plus get some exercise.  And it's always nice to not have to cook dinner.

3.  I am grateful that I got my new shoes today.  I'm hoping they will help me run so fast.  Or at least not kill my body while I'm running slow.

4.  I am grateful that Owen was able to learn to ride his bike.  I'm so stinkin' proud of that boy.  And I'm so excited to ride bikes with my kids.

5.  I am grateful that the weather was SO nice today.  It was beautiful!!  And I loved getting out and enjoying it.