And then get in a car without thinking about it.
Road traffic injuries are the leading cause of death for children and young adults aged 5–29 years.
Then if we exclude the million of deaths and additional millions injured every year, those things contribute to air pollution, noise pollution, microplastics, heat islands, and stress.
People will gladly stop smoking ‘for their children’, but then jump in their oversized pickup truck or SUV to move them around, while complaining about gas prices.
EDIT: I guess what I’m trying to say is that eating better and exercice more is one thing, but if we continue to consume, pollute, and trash the planet at this pace, we will all live longer just to see a planet that slowly becomes uninhabitable because of droughts and floods.
Those kinds of long-term risks to health aren’t as intuitive to a parent’s protective instinct as immediate things like physical danger to a child. I think most parents would jump into action to protect their child in a moment of crisis, but our brains haven’t really evolved to fear things like heart disease. Not only is that a more recent concern in terms of human history, but it’s probably likely to kill you only after your child has grown to a point of relative self-sufficience.
Yes?
the goal is not to die before son finish college, he is 4, some ways to go. trying to achieve this by not developing diabetes, keeping a1c under 6, since it is a precursor of some many deathly illnesses
God, the timing on this…
I’ve been thinking literally exactly this about myself and am working on losing weight, exercising and getting more sleep. I want to be there for her long-term and need to do better.
Not only that, but I find that half of being a parent is parenting yourself.
My son clearly imitates my behaviors. Whether it’s screen time or not interrupting or putting things away or so many things, I notice my own behavior and think, ‘If I saw him doing this, I’d tell him to stop. So I should stop.’
But man… I don’t wanna! Five more minutes! I’ll do it later!
Setting a good example is a lot of work.
Children are often a mirror to our true selves, not the delusions we want to be true.
Plus side, you see everything that makes the people around you love you.
Downside, you get to experience all the “cute annoying” habits you (and your partner) have, aimed back at you.
Yeah it’s one of the reasons I’m working to lose weight - so I can live longer for my kids.
Random internet strangers believe in you!
I keep saying this lol. Honestly the world needs dillegence more then heroics
The world needs less ego.
Alas,
the curse of having eyes
(ears/nose/mouth/senses, but that doesn’t slant rhyme with)
A front row seat to your life.Dillegence takes time, heroics dosn’t and looks cooler.
I’m not going to let them eat me! Probably.
I’m still faster, thanks to exercise. For now.
Honestly, yes. I started exercising way more after an illness that made me unable to lift by kid. I know have no problem lifting him up and bringing him around. Silly carries are my favorite!
No kids so I eat what I want.
There are some parents that do make lifestyle changes and some that don’t. Personally I quit drinking and certainly eat a more balanced diet since having a kid. I’m not the best at going to the gym, but I stay on my feet and am pretty active with him. I’m not sure I’d say I only changed for him, I did it for myself as well, but it played a huge part. Everyone is different.
I got fit for fatherhood. Cycling every day. Lost loads of weight, totally changed body shape. Fucked my knees tho.
Yes. And I will keep doing it. I promised my kids we’d watch Haley’s Comet together in 2060-whatever.
Right on 🩵🩵🩵
If these goddamn kids would let me sleep more I sure would. Although I know I’ll miss the days of tiny feet in my face some time after it ends.
When my children were children, I was immortal, but I learned that I was only immortal for a limited time.
(Neil Peart, Rush)
