cesimpson

There are certain topics a parent should not teach his or her child(ren). I’m not saying the children shouldn’t learn about those topics, nor am I saying the parent has no responsibility in seeing the child is properly educated. I’m simply saying, sometimes it’s better to outsource.

Driving is one of those things. So is tying of shoes.

The Nordstrom near our home offers a free shoe-tying lesson to children on the third Saturday of each month. I took my daughter on Saturday morning and it was a huge success.

It’s 45-60 minutes long. The staff:child ratio is really high (almost 1:1). They have these gigantic size 17+ shoes for the kids to practice with and a little poem/mnemonic to help the children remember the steps.

Of course it’s a marketing effort - it’s a brilliant marketing effort (and I, by writing about it here, am gladly contributing) - but I don’t care. My little girl had fun, got a balloon and learned to tie her shoes. Meanwhile, I got to sit quietly about 10 feet away, sip my coffee, watch the starfish in the aquarium next to me, and, most importantly, not get frustrated trying to teach my child something that’s so natural to me I can’t easily break it down into discreet, teachable steps.

I already have a deal with my younger brother. He teaches my kids to drive, I’ll teach his. Some things are best left to a disinterested third party.

Squats

We’re back to intensive squats twice per week. My back feels awesome these days, so I’ll be doing back squats, trying to get it back up around 335#.

Warm Up

5x Power Snatch + 5x Overhead Squat @ 45#

5x Power Snatch + 5x Overhead Squat @ 65#

5x Power Snatch + 5x Overhead Squat @ 85#

5x Power Snatch + 5x Overhead Squat @ 95#

5x Power Snatch + 5x Overhead Squat @ 115#

Back Squats

3x Squat @ 205#

4x Squat @ 235#

4x Squat @ 270#

4x Squat @ 270#

4x Squat @ 270#

5x Squat @ 270#

Circuit

10x Squat @ 185#

10x Chin Up

10x Dips @ BW+35#

6x Toes-to-Fingers + 4x Knees-to-Elbows

Rest (1:1)

10x Squat @ 185#

8x Chin Up

10x Dips @ BW+35#

4x Toes-to-Fingers + 6x Knees-to-Elbows

Rest (1:1)

10x Squat @ 185#

6x Chin Up

10x Dips @ BW+35#

4x Toes-to-Fingers + 6x Knees-to-Elbows

Rest (1:1)

10x Squat @ 185#