I’m going to shield myself with a thick skin before I hit “Publish” on this post.

You see, I’m going to talk about parenting. And I’m going to be critical. And what I have to say is going to ruffle some feathers. Too bad. Sometimes the truth hurts. Or is, at the very least, a little uncomfortable.

One of the most common excuses I hear from people for not exercising is that ” I don’t have the time.” This phrase is usually quickly followed by, “I want to spend time with my kids.” You see, when people use spending time with their children as an excuse, they think they’re safe from reproach. After all, who would call bullshit on someone spending time with their kids?

Me.

This is because I have a firm belief that 1) it is your parental obligation to stay fit so that you can be around for your children and 2) you can kill two birds with one stone: spend time with your children while working out.

Of course because I am a CrossFitter, I think that CrossFit is the best way to share an exercise session with your kids. But guess what? If CrossFit isn’t your cup of tea, then do SOMETHING ELSE! Get involved with krav maga or mountain biking or yoga. But start moving. Set a good example and set your children up for a lifetime of a healthy relationship with exercise and their bodies. 

Stop hiding behind your children and using them as an excuse to be lazy. When they hear you using them as an excuse to avoid exercise what message do you think you’re sending to them? That they are the reason you’re not healthy. And when you have a heart attack or are diagnosed as a type 2 diabetic, they are going to think it’s because of them. Trust me, kids are egocentric. Here’s what they’re little brains will hear: You have diabetes because you didn’t exercise + you didn’t exercise because of you kids = your kids caused your diabetes (or insert the appropriate illness here).

Even if your children manage to avoid internalizing blame for your illness, they will pay for your laziness in other ways. You won’t be able to practice playing ball with them and they won’t make the team. You can’t make it to their high school graduation because you’re too sick. Maybe you will be dead by the time they get married or have their first child. Perhaps you will be so helpless that you will need help with daily tasks, forcing your children to become your caregivers, perpetuating caregiver burnout of the sandwich generation. Any way you slice it, you’re going to leave a lasting, negative impression on your kids’ lives. 

What’s worse is that as your children grow older, they will follow in your footsteps. If nobody breaks the cycle, generations of your family will avoid exercise and fall into a life of disease and immobility, reliance on others and on medication to keep slogging through their life, the quality of which is questionable.  

So fulfill your parental obligation. Do your duty. Turn off the t.v., the xbox, the videogames and get involved in a sport or exercise regimen with your kids. Spend time with them while teaching them some healthy habits and set them up for success in the future.