Little Runner Boy

When Mike is out of town I am forced able to run with both my kids in the double jogger. Scott lately has been wanting to get out and run with me, so he got his first pair of running shoes. (he is totally pumped and has now decided he wants to race, I have no idea if 4 year olds are allowed to race, but I am looking into it).  Last week, I sunscreened everyone up, packed snacks, 3 waters, Nate’s paci,  put on Scott’s running shoes and headed out. He would get out and run with me about every 15 minutes for a couple of minutes and then hop back in the stroller. I am trying to teach him running “rules” so he doesn’t become like a Fleet Feeter. My heart melted when we were passing a walker and Scott yelled out in his adorable voice, “On your left!”.

Sometimes I have those moments when I look at my kids and think, “Oh, I get it. This is what life is all about.” Seeing my baby run in front of the massive stroller, flailing his arms about (remember that Friends episode when Rachel and Phoebe run together? Scott is totally Phoebe.), screaming “I am winning! I am going to beat you!”, and then suddenly stopping and pointing to a piece of trash all the way down by the water and yelling, “Mom, Somebody litter bugged on Riverside! Why would Somebody litter bug on Riverside?! Oh, look they litter bugged those one chips I like!”. Those are the moments that I hope I never forget. Those moments that I want to mentally video tape and play back to myself when we are having a rage out day. To a four year old, anything can be an adventure. Sometimes I forget. I forget that he is only four. I forget how fast it is passing me by. I forget that in a month he is going to preschool. I forget that one day, to soon,  I won’t be running with him, I will be watching from the sidelines. One day, I won’t be the princess and he won’t be the pirate. One of these days I am not going to have a double jogger stuffed in the garage and I will miss it.