Thank you for your interest in this story
To continue reading this article, subscribe to the Stray Ferret for as little as £1 a week
Already a subscriber? Log in here.
18
May 2024
The joy of getting fit with your older kids
Does the thought of getting fit with your teenagers or 20-something children sound fun or fill you with dread?
While some parents may see it as a chance to spend quality time with their older children, others couldn’t think of anything worse. And for the kids, working out with mum or dad may not be especially appealing.
There’s definitely the potential for disaster. For anyone reaching middle age and turning perhaps to gentler ways of keeping their bodies fit and healthy, trying to keep up with a particularly energetic teen or toned 20-something gym fanatic may only remind you of what your body can’t do any more. And, if your child has inherited your competitive streak, things can get more than a little hostile.
On the other hand, exercising alongside your teenager may spur you on to push your limits or attempt exercise you wouldn’t otherwise have tried. And it works the other way too: Youngsters may be encouraged to try new forms of exercise that they find they actually enjoy.
Trish Connor of Gymophobics
Trish Connor is the owner of Gymophobics in Harrogate, which runs a special Mum & Teen membership package at a discounted price to encourage joint exercise. She said:
“It’s nice they want to spend time with you”
Tamsin Moore with her daughters Montana and Atlanta Wilkinson-Moore.
Every Tuesday, Tamsin Moore, 56, and her daughters Montana, 25, and Atlanta Wilkinson-Moore, 23, meet at St John Fisher Catholic High School for a Dance Yourself Fit exercise class. It’s part of a weekly routine combining exercise and a catch-up that also includes gym sessions and a walk to Harlow Carr Gardens.
With both girls living in their own homes in Harrogate, Tamsin values the time they spend together. She said:
For Atlanta, the encouragement she gets from her mum helps her stay focused on keeping fit. She said:
“It feels quite natural”
Georgina Buck and her daughter Katherine play netball together in the Harrogate District Netball League.
Georgina, 49, has been playing for the Vipers team for 20 years, while Katherine joined five years ago. At the time, Katherine was a student at St Aidan’s and played for school as well as in a junior league, but found the matches too competitive. She wanted to play at a good level, but just for fun - and Vipers was the perfect fit. Georgina said:
Katherine and Georgina Buck.
Georgina and Katherine both play the same positions, GK and GD, and therefore work together in the defensive circle. Katherine said:
With Katherine now at university and playing for Vipers during the holidays, mum and daughter value even more their time together playing netball. Georgina said:
0