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Keeping Fit and Cerebral Palsy
Keeping Fit and Cerebral Palsy
4/28/08 12:33 AM
One thing that I have found over the years, as my child grew up, was that physically, it become increasingly demanding on my body to lift and play with her. I don't know about you guys, but events like Halloween, frankly, are one of the most difficult days of the year. Lifting my girl and up and down the stairs as we go from house to house, has become a huge challenge. One thing I've found, is that we have started to frequent apartment complexes instead of single-family homes - this ensures a nice amount of 'loot', but with less pain.

I also took the opportunity this year to teach my daughter about giving back. We agreed before we went out that she would share her candy with someone less fortunate. So we posted for, and found a sick child on Craigslist, who couldn't go out for Halloween. At the end of the night, we boxed up and mailed half the candy away. She didn't need it anyways...and I think it made the event even more special.

So back to keeping fit: I've started to run 5K runs, and try to hit the gym more often than I used to. I know that to give my daughter the best quality of life - I need to stay fit. For those of you with little ones, start planning early. Maybe its a gift that our kids give us - motivation to stay healthy ourselves.
RE: Keeping Fit and Cerebral Palsy
12/9/08 10:50 PM as a reply to Anonymous.
Our son Andrew has just had his 18th birthday - he took up running just over a year ago after one day going for a jog with his very unfit dad.

Last week end he finished a 30k marathon and has entered the full marathon in Houston in January - the difference in his CP health has been quite dramatic.

As a family we have never allowed Andy to be a "sick son" the word "CP" is not encouraged in our home - we all have challenges in our life its just for Andy his challenge is just a bit more than the rest of us in the family.

So while every one will be writing about the benefits of us Dads being fit (something I don't disagree with) may I shout from the rooftops that our children with their challenges in their life also need to be encouraged to be fit - it is so easy to wrap them in cotton wool because "they are special" because they have "CP"
Remember Dads as our children get older so do WE!! We will not be here to see them through their whole life - we obviously love and care very much for our children but maybe just maybe sometimes we should push them and encourage them to beyond their limits (NOT our perceived limit of their capabilities). If you had told me Andy could run 30k a year ago I would have smiled politely his Dad only managed 20k when he was in the British Forces and had a very loud Drill instructor giving him a hard time so how could I expect our son to do better than me??? He has CP you know its not something he could do - how wrong would I have been to take that attitude - how much would I have taken away from him if my wife and I had not pushed him in the early days or got up at 5.30 in the morning to take him to the running group to ensure he went. His weak left side is no longer his speech has shown an improvement his confidence level has increased. It has not been a miracle but the plus side has been very big not only in Andy's physical health but also in his mental health and self confidence.
Whether his physical health will continue to improve is an unknown BUT as sure as eggs are eggs his self confidence will continue to improve and you will not see two prouder parents next month in Houston when our son crosses the finish line

So please fellow Dads hear our story and think how it could have a positive effect upon your own children.