“Jumpin’ Jacks. Hit ’em!!!”

For the past few weeks, the boys — the ones that are awake, that is — and I have been doing The Grey Lady’s Scientific 7-Minute Workout when we get up in the morning.

So far, the only ones who have made it to every session are Dominic (#1) and David (#4). This morning, Dominic barely made it out of bed, dragging himself into the living room at the last possible second. He even tried to curl up and take a quick nap during each 10-second rest period. He made it all the way through, ’tis true. But it was pretty clearly not his favorite thing ever.

David, on the other hand, is this. Every. Single. Morning. And I’m not even remotely exaggerating. The huge smile; the enthusiasm; the cowlicks. The actual quote(s).

In related news, he thinks “running in place” is just silly. If you’re going to run, you may as well go places, right? So, as the mildly-Australian-ish voice ticks off the 30-second running segment, he tears ’round the living room, weaving in and out between the couches and the chairs and the far-less-energetic participants.

Half of me marvels at his energy, half of me wants to have that energy myself once again, and half of me realizes that watching his energy and enthusiasm isn’t just a vicarious pleasure. It’s a self-mirroring one, producing in me the very thing I love seeing in him. To a lesser extent, to be sure, but still… Watching David expend energy at such a cheerfully insane pace actually gives me energy.

Kids. They really take it out of you. But they really give it back, too.

Somehow, I’m pretty sure I’m ending up ahead.

Attribution(s): Photos courtesy of me.