Chrashfit Health, Nutrition, Fitness models, workouts & More
It’s 4:45 am when I get up. Most of the world is asleep and happily so. But, I arise full of energy and vigor even earlier than my 5:30 alarm knowing that this morning my son will be training with me. Father and son training is unlike anything else.
Fathers and sons have a very special bond. We teach them how to play, how a towel tied around their neck like a cape can give them super powers, and how to deal with the scrapes and bruises from attempting to do the impossible. All this helps raise a boy into a man, gives him the confidence to succeed, the belief that nothing is unachievable and the strength to pick himself back up when he falls. We instill these lessons and values early on in our sons and try to reinforce them as they grow. But, as that little boy becomes a man it’s harder to connect with him. The teenage years bring so many outside influences. Friends, Music, TV, Phones, Video Games and social media start creeping in and at times undermining these life lessons. Yeah and, let’s not forget about Girls!!!…
With a busy life, career and two other children I’ve made great efforts to keep my relationship with my son strong. But, as we all know the teenage years are a blur of school, sports, friends and “stuff” to do. Not too much time in there for your parents. It’s both happy and sad at times to remember the days of racing match box cars on the kitchen floor, imaginary adventures with that 3 yr. old that truly believed he was batman and having my little “buddy” attached to my hip, know that in his eyes I was his hero. So the day my son decided he wanted to train with his old man and was willing to wake up at 5:30 to do so my heart filled with that joy once again.
Our training time together turned out to be much more than just your run of the mill workout. From the moment he wakes the time we spend is solely our own. His sisters are still fast asleep, no one is awake to text or call, there’s no great urgency to check Facebook or Twitter or anything else this early. So, I get a genuine “Good morning Dad”. We chat uninterrupted for a bit while we get our shakes made and I pour my coffee that’s so strong it could be jet fuel. We discuss our workout for the day and joke about falling asleep in school and at work. I wander around the house wasting time until he reels me back in to our task at hand and hustles me out the door. (I have a habit of wandering aimlessly throughout the house in the morning)
The grogginess has faded by the time we enter the gym. As we take a few minutes to warm up the conversation turns more towards the punishment we are about to endure and less about the ideas for the day and future plans. I take the lead and start our routine for the day. He knows all of our standard lifts but also knows I always add a little extra surprise just to keep it fun. ( if you want to call torturing your muscles ‘til failure fun 🙂 ). It’s amazing to see how receptive he still is to my instruction and coaching. His fortitude and effort give me a sense of pride. He has learned already in his young life that no challenge is too great with strength of character, drive and determination. I’m there to not only spot him but to coach and support. We chuckle at the fact that I am a constantly nagging him to ”breeeeeeeathe” and keep his posture strong.
As the workout grows near to completion the fatigue has crept in and the last massive superset burnout is completed not by our muscles but our drive and mental grit. Little does he know that his mere presence inspires me to do my best and seeing him succeed serves as a reminder that sacrifice yields results both in the gym and as a parent. I want to continue to inspire him as he does me. I see him growing into a man that I could only aspire to be. I push myself harder and so does he – Not in competition but in comradery. Our training time together affords us a great bond. It allows us to grow our relationship as father and son and as friends as he readies himself for adulthood. The physical changes are just a bonus from this time we spend together, reaching and striving for the goal of bettering ourselves through hard work and dedication. Not many parents get a chance to connect at this level with their teens. But, while the rest of the world sleeps we use our father and son training time to reaffirm our tie through sweat and the sound of reverberating iron.
How old was your son when he started working out with you??
He started as a baby hitting heavy bags and training with the Air Force guys and kick boxers. I never pushed him into any of it. Gave him his freedom to pursue his own path. He chose the same fitness and health regimen as me and i’ve guided him since. We built a little gym at the house and we talk and train and bond there. It’s been great for us.And, I push for progress but never forget that the real benefit is the time together.