Life Choices

For the last week I’ve been staying with my older sister (3 years older), Miranda. She’s a mom, a great one, with two kids. The oldest is the cutest little girl, Avery, who is turning three next week. Her younger brother, Reagan is a mere 5 months old. Miranda is on maternity leave until November. Yes, that’s November! Here in Canada maternity leave is 1 full year (unlike America where it’s 6 weeks)!

I get to be the great Auntie Angie who lets Avery run around the grocery store with no control, and leave a mess of toys in each room we play. For Reagan, I’ve stayed my distance after his ‘feedings.’ He has learned to projectile vomit with pleasure. Uuugh!

So my reason in writing this post is the whole idea of life choices. I want to compare how two totally different lives can make two people happy.

Miranda vs. Angela

She gets up at the crack of dawn to two feet pounding down the hallway and a baby laughing in his crib. In order to keep up with the energy, a full pot of coffee so strong a spoon can stand in it, is required. After asking Avery what she wants for breakfast and making the complete opposit, Miranda finally eats the left-overs of bread crusts and eggs.

It’s then time to get dressed. This may sound easy but dressing a three-year-old who wants to play, “you can’t catch me,” is a challenge. All the while, Reagan has preceded to poop his pants, and drool all down his jammies.

Most days, Avery enjoys her mid-mornings either painting outside, playing with her toys or doing crafts. Miranda cleans the house, gets dressed, packs bags, makes lunch, attempts to shower, do the laundry, and naps the baby (if he is able to nap). It’s amazing how such mundane things can make a person happy. Miranda does this to see the drooling baby smile, and the high energy three-year-old make a painting of scary monsters with a smile so big one can only smile back.

Now seeing Miranda as a mom is surprising to me. Miranda is highly educated and has a full-time position as a chartered accountant that she will continue after her maternity leave. If you compared her and I four years ago, one would say she was the most selfish person you’ve met. She is very ’stylish’ and enjoys her Starbuck’s coffee not just daily, but 5x daily. But now you see her changing poopy diapers and still in her pajamas at 10 am!

Anyway, back to her day. Miranda is forever in the kitchen making snacks and preparing meals. She does about a load of laundry a day. When they do get out of the house, it’s a 30-minute process of chasing Avery, packing bags and changing, yet another diaper. This goes on ALL day! I’ve yet to see Miranda read a book, let alone have 10 minutes to herself. Her husband comes home in mid-afternoon. The family then enjoys some time outside, they go for a walk or do some ‘errands’ in town.

Now, my life. I try to keep it simple. My life revolves around me! I like it this way. As an athlete, I make meals for me, when I want and what I want (except when Chuckie is around…he eats a lot of my meals too). I train throughout the day, and takes naps/rests as needed. I won’t get into the details, as I think everyone knows who is reading this, that an athlete’s day consists of training, eating and sleeping! And I wouldn’t want in any other way.

Being with Miranda and the kids has made me realize a few things about myself:

1. I’m definitely not mom material.
2. I’m not ready to have children, maybe not at all!
3. I’m 100% an athlete.
4. I define who I am through my sport. AND I LOVE IT!

Miranda has left me with Reagan while she drops off Avery at pre-school. I told her not to be too long! He’s just puked, he’s crying and yes, just pooped his pants! Double uuugh!

I’m off to be a mom until the real mom gets back. I’m not ready for this responsibility! Will I ever? Hmmm, not for at least a decade! Maybe two!

This is all in good cheer as I know Miranda is happy with her life. I never thought one could be happy doing what she does. Being a mom takes work! I’d rather put the energy in busting out a swim set in the pool!

Two different people, two different lives.