Running is Mommy Time
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Anita Doberman is a journalist, syndicated columnist and author whose work has appeared in newspapers and magazines across the country. Her column, "Out of the Blue," reaches millions of readers each week across the United States. A sought-after speaker, she has reached new audiences through radio appearances and speaking engagements.
Born and raised in Rome, Italy, Anita left Europe for the United States to study dance at the Alvin Ailey School of Dance in Manhattan. She later attended Columbia University, where she majored in English. Following college, Anita worked as an Investment Banking Analyst for Credit Suisse First Boston.
The contrast between her big city and European background, and her present life as a military spouse and mother of five in Small Town USA provides a great platform for her observations about American life. Anita shares her life experiences with honesty, laughter and emotion. She deals with the trials and tribulations of everyday life, magnified by being a literal ocean away from her family and often just as far from her military husband.
Witty and down to earth, Anita connects with people on a very personal level. Her topics vary from practical issues on handling a house overflowing with children and pets, to universal questions like "Am I a good mother?," to emotional matters of dealing with a life in constant flux. She is currently working on a non-fiction book based on her experiences.
For more information about Anita, go to her web-site at www.anitadoberman.com
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I have always played sports, but never particularly enjoyed running. In college, I tried to join the track and field team, and gave up after the first day of practice. I thought it was too hard.
Perhaps motherhood has increased my pain tolerance, or military life has made it imperative that I learn to live with discomfort — not knowing when or where we will go next, having hubby gone at the drop of a hat — but in the last few years I have come to love running.
As the mother of five children, I don’t have a lot of free time (really, none), but running has become my “mommy time.” When I put on my running shoes and hit the road, I forget about my children, my husband, the pets, the house, the long deployments and the constant moving. I work hard to push my body and make my goal, be it 3 miles, 5 miles, even 26 miles. When I am done, I feel great and ready to get back to being mommy to my children and “honey” to my husband.
Running is also portable, something crucial if you are a military spouse. I can run anywhere we live as long as I have a good pair of sneakers and determination. I have come to love this sport not only because it’s great physical activity, but because it mirrors life.
Sometimes I can go for a great run. My feet are fast, and I am not even aware that I have knee joints. I am light on the road and I can run long distances without feeling out of breath. These runs reflect the days when everything seems to work, the kids are acting well, I am getting along with hubby, the mail only brings good news and the house is clean.
Other times, my feet are slow. I feel I have stones instead of feet – I cannot stop thinking about how much my knee joints ache, I am heavy on the road and out of breath. These runs mirror the days when nothing works, the kids are acting terribly, hubby and I are fighting, the mail man only brings me bills to pay, and the house is a war zone.
What’s more, it’s a great way to loose a few pounds. It's hard for your husband to complain about watching the kids when you're taking care of your health.
Who knows, some time in the future, I may even run a marathon. Or, maybe I'll just stick to my 3 miles of blissful solitude.
© 2007 Anita Doberman.
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