Creating a life with activity built in

For several weeks now, I've been walking my daughter to school, or home from school, several times a week. I needed a real kick in the behind to do it, despite having wanted to make walking to school an integral part of our life at the beginning of the school year. It's not that it's far, it's just a matter of convenience. The school bus picks her up and drops her off right in front of our house. Her riding the bus gives me so much more time to do my stuff, and also allows my little one to still take an afternoon nap. Well, that is how I'd rationalized it all up until a few weeks ago. I think we were also trying to "ride on the coattails" of Cheap-o-Dad, who've we've been so proud of, riding his bike to work most days, and not filling up his gas tank for much of the past year. But pride of another doesn't really count when you're not walking the talk yourself...

Recently, our elementary school started this program called "Punch Out Pollution." Each child who participates gets a punch-card with their name on it, and gets a punch for each day they carpool, ride the bus, walk or bike to school. So far it seems as if the response at the school has been quite positive. I know my daughter has really enjoyed getting her punches. Although riding the bus is considered carpooling, our family took this as the kick in the pants to walk more. Turns out I've really enjoyed the fresh air, the chance to stop and smell the roses along the way, and to chat with other children and parents as we near the school. The days we walk start out slower and feel less stressful. Mostly, I've liked that we're integrating activity into our daily lives, rather than making exercise one of those "have to do" chores that is so tricky to get into our fairly hectic schedule (and often doesn't even make the schedule). Now, we probably don't get our heart rates up very high or anything, but I'm not going to worry about that. I like that walking helps us have car-free days, which a year ago, I would have told you would be just about impossible for our family to achieve. Now, I don't want to try and convince you that this change has been a tiptoe through the tulips. There have been plenty of moans and groans from the peanut gallery on the cold mornings and rainy days when perhaps the children didn't select the best outerwear and foot gear. Oh well. At least we are out there, learning, walking and doing our part to punch out pollution.

I know there are a lot of you EnviroMom readers who walk almost everywhere, so I wanted to thank you for telling us about that and inspiring me. Sometimes when you think a task or a chore seems too hard for you to take on, all it really takes is hearing about another mom who's successfully doing it, and then you are inspired to give it a try. Gotta love those baby steps...