I find it ironic that I sit in front of the TV every night for hours, much longer than normal, indulging in a fattening treat and watching athletes give it their best. As I veg, muscular swimmers propel lean bodies through a pool ten times the length I have the energy to cross. As I stuff my face with evening snacks, flexible gymnasts contort themselves in more ways on a balance beam than I can getting comfortable in my corner of the cushy couch. Just seeing the fluid pace of the rowers makes my thighs ache. They deserve a good rubbing for the stiffness they get from long periods of sitting in one position on the sofa.
Meanwhile, my daughter tries to nail a perfect toe to head combination on her belly every night before bed, nearly landing in tears when she doesn’t make the cut. Her daddy gently coaches, “Practice.”
And the kids have found inspiration in a pile of beanbags and our couch, which is off-limits for mid-air flips. Though my son seems to be getting pretty good at a single tuck when he thinks I’m not looking.
Frankly, my behind is sore. I’m tired from staying up so late. These amazing athletes put me to shame. I need to get up and do something. I get too emotional watching these young people’s dreams soar or crash. And my kids keep getting too many crazy ideas. I think they’re trying to get new sports into the Olympic Games. Today they tried to walk a tightrope—lengths of yarn tied from doorknob to doorknob. I didn’t stick around to see the outcome, which just proves I’m too stinking tired to do my mothering job properly.
I’m starting to fade. The Olympics exhaust me. I don’t have the stamina to even be a spectator. Looks like I better start training for Rio. My kids already are.
Mom in the Muddle 
I too am tired. So very, very tired after weeks of four, loud in-my-face kids and now the thick of the “fall marathon.” I’ve not watched a single piece of a single event — only heard accounts on the radio while I’m doing something else as it blares in the background.
If you came over to my house, Muddled, you’d not be on the sofa for long. I’d put you to work! There should be an Olympic sport for juggling household duties. I’d win a gold for sure.
Oh, I do my stuff during the day so I can sit at night to watch. Now I have a work project. Things are going downhill fast. Thankfully the kids have a few more weeks till school starts. I can start that rush later!
Amazing post. 🙂 If I was watching I know I would feel the exact same way, however not since Svetlana Boginskaya have I had a reason to watch the Summer Olympics. I probably should, there’s a lot of inspiration to be found there.
My two favorites to watch are women’s gymnastics and swimming. And of course they’re both on right now. It’s killing me to have to stay up for both of them. I’m sure I’ll find reasons to watch when those are finished. I taped some of the finals for my kids and then watched some of that again with them. It’s amazing how many questions they have about it. That’s a post in itself really. 😉
Such a funny post. The Olympics are greatly interfering with my and my husband’s sleep. I get so emotionally invested too. I used to just be nervous for the athletes, but now that I’m a mom, I realize I’m crying and holding my breath for all the mommies watching their “little ones”…
I feel the same way. I think about the parents in the stands wanting to comfort and hug their kiddos.
Hehehe! My husband and I were sitting on the couch the other night, eating nachos while watching the Olympics and idly wondering wheher gym memberships increase during the summer Olympics.
I bet they increase after. How much weight must people gain sitting and watching for so many hours?
so true, i cry, i cringe. my best sport – competitive ice cream eating. maybe we could be a team?
My husband would have me beat on ice cream eating. I didn’t know when I got married that I had married into an ice cream infatuatedeating family. I thought, “Who eats ice cream in winter?” They eat it all the time! You’d fit in nicely.
I’m sorry about your sore behind. Luckily it will have four more years to recuperate.
I’ll have to come up with an Olympics spectator workout plan by then.
Sign me up for a copy of your Olympics spectator workout plan. I’ll watch it once the Olympics are over and I need another reason to watch my thighs spread on the couch. I’m with you on the gymnastics and swimming – so inspiring, yet … I’m still on the couch. Maybe track and field will get me moving again!
I definitely feel the itch to get moving now that I see those ladies burning rubber. Man, they are fast! Of course, I’m not a runner at all. I sprinted from the pool when a rain shower was coming last night and that was the extent of my track and field. Out of breath at a snail’s pace. I blame it on the flip-flops.
I’m loving watching the Olympics. So much to watch and so little time. With the time difference it makes it strange, though.
I say, somebody has to eat ice cream, and it may as well be us hard-working spectators, right?? We’ve done our time. Okay, maybe we haven’t, but we can pretend.
Loved this post, MM!
I agree. And I have to keep busy while watching. I can’t exactly do gymnastics stunts while watching gymnastics. I have to see the action. It’s hard enough to take my eyes off to make sure my spoon gets to my mouth. Difficult, but not impossible. It’s reality TV at its best and the only kind I watch.
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Thanks, that’s so kind of you! Checking out the other nominations.