I took my weekly Spinning class today with minimal protestations from Techno and Twinkle. I let them bypass the childcare and go straight to the basketball courts to “babysit” themselves while I was in class. They were able to breathe easier with the freedom and I with their lack of whining and histrionics.

Halfway through the class four kids (two of them were mine and the other two the Spinning instructor’s) had their noses pressed up to the glass watching, smiling and waving at us as we pedaled furiously and sweated profusely on the bikes.

The instructor said “You guys are all the heroes to them today not some idiot athletes who are good at lying.” Insert a host of athletes who have fallen from grace – the most recent being the Milwaukee Brewers’ Ryan Braun.

His comment made me smile.  What a great observation.  I was feeling extra peppy to have my kids take a peek at what we were doing.  Before I tried Spinning I wondered myself what it was all about. But they were standing there for so long. They were either getting really bored with basketball or really enjoying watching us sweat and slowly melt off the bikes.

I thought of all my friends who conquer everything from the 5K’s to the marathons, from Kickboxing to Pilates, to swimming laps, stroller walks around town, triathlons and even the Ironman. YOU guys are the heroes!  What a great example to model for children to help them cope with frustrations or hormones and combat anxiety, stress, social issues, obesity and a whole host of other undesirable things.

Each time a child can see an important adult in their life choose to make their health a priority, it benefits everyone. I need to remember this the next time the whining starts and a cup of coffee and Live! with Kelly and Michael looks more tempting.