MOVE THAT BUS!!!: From my perspective

4

Comments Posted on Jan 18, 2012 Posted by mmslattery

“Move that bus! Move that bus! Move that bus!” my smiling three-year-old chanted, as she marched around our playroom this morning. Her enthusiasm was ironic, given her response to the real crowds chanting these three magic words just an hour earlier, but we’ll get to that.

Today my daughter Brooke and I were part of the crowd of 1,000 spectators welcoming the Watson family home for the ABC show, “Extreme Makeover Home Edition.” Since the show has now gone off the air and this is the last special slated to air around Thanksgiving, this was a momentous occasion for TV history and for Knoxville. It was an occasion for which I wanted to reminisce one day and say, “I was there.”

This would be a very different story if I weren’t a stay-at-home mom with young children. The older two were in school, but Brooke is with me most of the time. One key benefit of being a SAHM is the freedom to bring my kids to unique experiences. However, with that freedom comes responsibility for caring for the often changing whims, needs, and attitudes of toddlers no matter what.

Now, I had a pretty good idea what monumental task I was taking on: asking a toddler to stay put and content while we stood primarily idle–in mud–waiting for a TV crew to spring into action. I was hauling all 30 pounds of her on my back for potentially several hours. Watching the producers and film crew pace back and forth, I was swept back to the years I’d spent on the other side of the barricades. I had been the producer on the walkie talkie, shadowing my camera man, instructing the crowd not to look at the camera. Different show, same theatrics. I had even interviewed Ty a decade ago for TLC’s hit show, “Trading Spaces.” And yes, he was a nice guy. How odd it felt not to have credentials around my neck.

The big reveal had been slated for 10:00am. I got antsy as I looked at my phone’s clock: 10:13, 10:28, 10:37…They had shot the crowd cutaways shouting, “Move that bus!” but the family was still nowhere in sight. Then an angel voice behind me came through loud and clear, “Mommy, I wanna go home.” I stalled with goldfish, stalled with water, stalled with a pacifyer (usually reserved just for bedtime now; I was desperate!). We even stepped away from the crowds so that she could run around across the street, but it was too late. You know that melt down phase that toddlers enter…the point of no return. The only solution was to head to the car. Part of me cried, “But we’re so close! You can’t leave now!” Another part said, “Is seeing a bus move really worth torturing your child?” And besides, any one of these strangers could be on the phone with Child Services reporting a negligent mom.

It was at this point I was thankful I had not taken a shuttle bus and had stashed the van one block away. We exited quickly and were home with hot chocolate and marshmallows within 20 minutes. It turns out the reveal happened 45 minutes after we left. From where we had been, I wouldn’t have been able to see the family or the film crews anyway.

Now in the warmth of my home, I ponder what drew a thousand people to stand in the cold and the mud–some for SIX hours–to be part of this experience? Was it the draw of celebrities like Ty Pennington and Jenny McCarthy? Had they volunteered during the rain, snow, or howling winds this past week? Did they want to see themselves on television? Or could it have been simply the desire to be a part of something bigger and greater than themselves? Even though we missed the big moment, I take comfort that I got the big message.

When it comes to changing lives on a grand scale, “Extreme Makeover” has it down. Aside from the desire to make good TV, I do believe the producers had good hearts with noble intentions. They accomplished what most builders would have said was simply impossible before the show. You can’t build an incredible house in 7 days–you just can’t! They made the impossible, possible…again and again. Isn’t there a nugget in all of us that wants to be a part of that? And don’t we all want to pay it forward in some way?

I believe in the good nature of all human beings. And the good news is that we don’t need a TV show to prove it. My wish for Knoxville is that “Extreme Makeover Home Edition” lit a fire in our town. The frenzy is over, but the real opportunities can now begin. Surely this fire will make every individual seek at least one way to be bigger, greater, more awesome by volunteering. Maybe you help build a Habitat for Humanity house, maybe you become a mentor for the Boys and Girls Club, or maybe you donate money, food, or supplies to a few of the hundreds of amazing non-profits that serve our community. The ripple effect blows the mind. Small gestures can evolve into big blessings. The only question remains, “How will you look back and say, ‘I was there!’”?

For WATE’s coverage, check out this video.

Please leave a comment about where or how you plan to serve our community. Thanks for sharing!

1/2/12: Wishes, Resolutions, and Reality

0

Comments Posted on Jan 02, 2012 Posted by mmslattery

When I said today’s date aloud, I chuckled at how regimented it sounded: 1, 2, 1, 2, time to get in step. I love the motivation and optimism for change I feel in early January. Two years ago, I reorganized the kids’ playroom and vowed to document their milestones and witty comments in individual journals. The playroom just got another massive revamp and the journals are practically empty. But last year I focused on physical challenges. I accomplished two for myself–my first triathlon and the Warrior Dash–as well as running with my son for his first 5K, an amazing experience.

So why do some resolutions remain mere wishes and others become reality? For me, it comes down to priorities and a level of commitment. I’m a big believer in setting only a few resolutions, writing them down, and having a means to assess whether you’ve accomplished them or not. Once I signed up for the races, there was no way I was backing down. Seeing it written on the calendar helped motivate me every day. Along the way, I’ve benefitted in many ways from basic better health. The satisfaction of completing the goals was the cherry on top.

So what’s on the list this year? I’m hoping blogging about them will make them more likely to become reality:

Make social media a more regular part of my routine. I plan to make blogging, Tweeting, and Facebook updates a more regular component of my business. And this year, I’m putting Mark Schaefer’s three keys to success for social media on my computer so that I see them everyday: targeted connections, meaningful content, and authentic helpfulness.
Continue my exercise routine. Complete the Tridelthalon again with faster times in all three categories. I may also sign up for this Women’s Only Wild Rose triathlon in Oak Ridge June 3. I’ll also track my daily activity by wearing my new pedometer.
Run more races with my son. We now have a family membership to the Knoxville Track Club, giving us discounts on some local race entry fees. Bobby and I entered the New Years Day race yesterday, but he hurt his knee. Though we walked most of the race, we still finished and I was proud of his perseverance. He’s very excited about the 5K on the day of the Knoxville Marathon, where he’ll finish crossing the 50 yard line of Neyland Stadium, and his face will be on the jumbotron. We might also give this event a try, an adult/kid version of the Amazing Race in Nashville February 12. Sounds so cool!
Make my own bread. For quite some time, I’ve been saying I should make my own bread (in a bread machine, that is). My husband had one before we met and it has sat idle for 15 years. After my neighbor showed me how easy it is and how she grinds her own flour, I decided this was the year for fresh bread. I’ll probably order my supplies through Breadbeckers. If you have tips, please share.
Make the journals a priority again. I still think it would be an amazing gift for them one day. A few sentences a day doesn’t seem too tough, does it?

What are your resolutions and how do you plan to turn them from just wishes to reality?

Unexpected Blessings When We Serve

2

Comments Posted on Sep 26, 2011 Posted by mmslattery

If you ever doubt that serving others benefits you ten-fold, I have a story for you.

I wanted to enter the 5K fund-raising race for the Volunteer Ministry Center for a number of reasons. A. Battling homelessness is an important mission. B. I wanted to support the Church of the Good Samaritan’s work with the VMC. C. My 7-year-old Bobby had recently shown an interest in running. However, when we started to think our day would be too crazy with his brother’s birthday party in the afternoon, I started to pull out. Then Bobby reminded me, “Aren’t we supporting a good cause? Don’t they NEED us, Mom?” Ok, we’ll do it.

Since he had never run further than a mile, I didn’t want to push him. I wanted him to have a positive first race experience; so we only signed up for fun run. Then he overheard someone say there was a three mile race and only that would be timed. He pleaded with me to do that instead. Ok, I resigned. We’ll just run as far as he can and then walk the rest.

Lining up at the start, I tried to move behind the serious runners even though Bobby wanted closer to the front. I urged him to pace himself since he had never run this far before. He tried a few stretches but couldn’t focus on anything beyond getting started. He was pumped and ready to go.

When the gun went off, he darted through the crowd, bobbing and weaving his way toward the front. Poor runners’ etiquette is all I could think. “Bobby, slow down! You’re going to run into someone!” As hard as I tried (and I’m in decent shape), I could not catch my son. He didn’t need me by his side; he just wanted to RUN.

I could see him most of the race, even though the distance between us grew and grew. Surely I’ll catch him closer to the end, I thought. Not a chance. As I crossed the finish line, he was there beaming with pride, breathing calmly, “Hi there, Mom. Where have you been?” I was only 2 ½ minutes behind him; smarty pants!

Once I caught my breath, two male runners came up to me to congratulate me on Bobby’s performance. “That kid was smokin’! He’s a machine! He kept pace with us the whole way.” They were even more impressed when I mentioned this was not only his first 5K but the first time he’d even run this distance. Their faces were stunned.

Bobby’s final time was 25:49, a time most runners would covet. He assures me he would have been faster if I had let him start towards the front. He was the youngest competitor to complete the 5K, the winner of his age division, and the first member of the Good Sam team to cross the finish line.

More importantly, what was challenging to the rest of us seemed effortless to him. Today I believe we discovered a sport that’s his true calling. If he could do this well without training, what is he capable of in the future? And unlike the other sports he’s tried thus far, he had nothing but smiles at the end. “When’s the next race, Mom? What’s breast cancer? Can we support that too?” he wanted to know.

My heart is so full to share his joy and triumph. What began as a way for us to contribute to the community turned into a far greater blessing for us. It’s a lesson we learn again and again if we only open our eyes to see it.

All aboard for the Titanic

5

Comments Posted on Jun 15, 2011 Posted by mmslattery

On Saturday my family was given complimentary tickets to enjoy the Titanic Pigeon Forge museum. I was under no obligation to post a positive review of our experience and all the thoughts and comments are my honest opinion.

It’s hard to believe the Titanic is coming up on its 100 year anniversary. It’s a humbling reminder of how each generation believes they are “unstoppable, unsinkable, and completely under control.”

Though I first went through the exhibit with my kids back in November, we arrived late due to traffic and did not get to truly enjoy it then. So when the opportunity came up again, I jumped at the chance to bring the hubby along too and spend as much time as we needed. Boy, am I glad we did!

One of the big differences was the addition of the audio tours that look like a remote control. I like that they have two versions: one for adults and one for kids. Both my 7 and 4 year olds were able to figure out the audio tours easily, but the 2 year old just batted it around. I switched back and forth between the adult and kid versions. I was impressed how they made the kid versions a little more fun without dumbing down the information.

This time we were also able to focus on the characters assigned to each of us to follow. My kids got a laugh out of one being Archibald Butt, and we spent extra time looking at the only photographs taken of Titanic at sea since that was another one of our characters, Father Francis Browne. The quality of these photos seemed almost too good to be true. What an interesting twist of fate that he wanted to stay on board to New York but was ordered off the Titanic by his superior before he crossed the Atlantic.

Another tidbit the kids liked was that 10 dogs were on board and 3 survived. Yes, 1517 people died but 3 dogs made it. I guess they were lucky lap dogs that get smuggled under life vests. My favorite part was the real-life size replica of the grand staircase. Amongst the gorgeous wood carving and gold leaf details was the latest and greatest in flooring–even more expensive than marble at the time–laminate!

Yet again, the kids favorite stop was the Tot-Tanic room with various degrees of the deck pitching as it sank, a life boat, and the ice berg game. I was convinced you couldn’t avoid hitting the iceberg since hundreds of thousands of people had played and hit it. However, one kid managed to miss it. I think the key is not turning the steering wheel too hard to the left.

As with all excursions with kids, nothing goes exactly as planned. I would recommend bringing an extra layer because some rooms are quite cold–hello, iceberg! Also our daughter lost a shoe and ran smack into a mirror at full speed. But I was so impressed with how the staff attended to her needs quickly with tissues and an ice pack. We never did find her shoe. I suspect she threw it into the first class cabin exhibit. So if you see something off-period on display, let me know!

Note: They don’t allow still or video cameras inside the museum. These were all provided by the museum. Click here to see a video: Titanic Pigeon Forge

My First Triathlon

9

Comments Posted on Apr 21, 2011 Posted by mmslattery

This past Sunday, I accomplished a goal I’ve been contemplating for over a decade. I completed a triathlon!

I emphasize I COMPLETED not COMPETED. Though I’ve always been fairly athletic, I knew going in that I would not be in the top tier or even the top half of finishers. This triathlon, called the Tridelthalon on the UT campus, was celebrating its 27th year. It was a sprint distance (400 meter swim, 6 mile bike, and 5K run) that kicked off the triathlon season in East Tennessee. For many athletes, this was a warm-up. For me, it was a chance to prove something to myself.

In 1999 I cheered on my husband Bob for his first triathlon. As I looked around, I was struck by the number of women–particularly moms with cheering children–competing as well. I said then to myself, “One day….”

When I decided to do this in late January, I only had 2.5 months to train. On my first training run, I felt a pain in my chest 400 yards in. That was my heart saying, “What is this? Running? You don’t run! What do I do now?” I made it one mile that day, a little further the next time, a little further the next, until three miles became manageable. I found my pace and breath. I was slow but steady and my heart never pounded like that again.

Before training, I thought the swim would be easy. I’ve spent much of my life in the pool and I swam through all three pregnancies. What I had forgotten was that my favorite stroke is the backstroke because I can continuously breath. After two laps of freestyle during my first training swim, I was out of breath and fearful I wouldn’t be able to do this. I modified my breathing to every two strokes. Again, I was slow but steady and within four weeks, I could swim 16 laps without stopping.

The biking I felt was my strong suit. I had completed two MS 150 mile bike rides years before. The training came back quickly. I knew I’d be slower than others because my bike is a hybrid / mountain bike, but I didn’t care.

The night before the race, Bob pumped up my tires and put my bike in the car. I had everything prepared when the electricity went out. The Seinfeld episode with the marathon runner oversleeping rushed to mind. We set both phones with alarms. When I arrived the next morning, I scanned the crowd for friendly faces. I met another mom with a three year old; this was also her first triathlon. Another woman had lost count of how many races she’d done because she started competing at 12. A father and college age son were doing their fifth Tridelthalon together. Lots of smiles and words of encouragement.

The swim was staggered every five seconds: up one lane, down the next. The faster swimmers were supposed to go first but a few slow swimmers snuck in. One guy wouldn’t even put his face in the water; that was hard to watch as he caused a log jam. When it was my turn, I swam as fast as my breath would allow. The video makes it look like I’m out for a leisurely lap swim, but I was pushing myself.

Once on the bike, I was cold but feeling good. However, once I got going I felt like I was working extra hard, as if something was tugging on my bike. I must have been passed by 30 bikers. Only when I got home did hubby realize a wire had snapped out of place and I had been riding with my brakes on the whole time. Grrrrr!

The run turned out to be hillier than how I had trained. Lots of up and down. I was the little engine that could–not impressive to watch but I made it! With the finish line in sight, I gave it all I had and crossed the with gusto. There to greet me were my supportive husband Bob, my enthusiastic children, and my wonderful parents. At every step, they had shared this triumph with cheers and homemade signs that urged, “Go, Mommy, Go!” This was a goal I had set for myself, but having them share it was so important to me. As my children grow up, I want them to not only hear me speak of the importance of exercise but see me modeling it too. I also want them to see me set a goal, work hard to achieve it, and do the best I can at whatever I do.

When I checked the final stats, one might say I didn’t do so hot. My total time was 1:18:51. Overall, I placed #246 out of 278. I was #5 out of 9 in my age division though, and this gives me a good baseline to try to beat next year. Yes, I plan to do this race again and this time without mountain bike tires or brakes holding me back. And just maybe I’ll be running faster next year. For the first time since my initial pregnancy, I look and feel like my old self. It’s as if I can do anything. Healthy is GOOD!