So as I sit here at the end of just another day as a work at home mum watching all these super fit, buffed, fast and able bodied sportspeople thrash it out at the Olympics, I begin to daydream about what sports I would have had the greatest chance of competing in had I had my time again (yes I am probably conceding I missed that path). My friend used to joke that she would be in the archery team, her theory being that you didn’t need to be born with any unique talents, attributes or body type, you probably just had to practice really hard, thus making it more accessible to us mere mortals. (apologies to any Archerists, I am aware there is more to it than that!)

I then turned my attention to all the skills and attributes I am sporting myself,  and decided that I, like all other parents out there, have developed many skills and talents to bring all these children into the world and continue to parent them. It seems to me, all of us who enter into this event of extreme parenthood (all parenthood is obviously extreme) are most deserving of a medal of Olympic proportions.

After all, just recently I have had to have

• the speed of  Usain Bolt to stop a crawling baby before he reached the top of the stairs
• the flexibility of a Russian gymnast to continually change my plans on an almost hourly basis as I deal with sick kids
• the buoyancy of the Aussie girls swim team to keep afloat when things start to overwhelm
• the precision of a dressage rider as I organize daily routines, meetings, sports training, playgroups and parties
• the partnership skills of the double sculls as my husband and I paddle through all this whilst trying to row at the same beat
• the  tenacity of  the wrestling team as I struggle to change the nappy of the baby with the skills and movement of Houdini

……..and  whilst my 10 kg little man may not match the dumbbells snatched by the Bulgarian weightlifter,  hold him on your hip for any vast amount of time whilst cooking, cleaning or watching a football match and you have a clean and jerk to match it with the best.

And lets not forget having the diversity of skills of the decathlon participant, the endurance of a marathon runner and the ability to hold our breath as long as any synchronized swimmer (and keep our toes pointed) as we wait patiently for them to come off the wrestling ring trampoline unscathed, or make it down the big scooter ramp with all bones still in tact.

In all seriousness I have the greatest respect and admiration for all the competing athletes and for all the years of dedication and sacrifice they have endured. (not to mention their parents too!)

So as I continue to watch on, I will instead be rewarded with the greatest medal of all.  I will rejoice in all my children’s achievements, I will smile when I hear them laughing loudly and uncontrollably and I will  be thankful to watch them sleeping peacefully at night……happy and content. (Although I may or may not have just offered my 10 year old $5 if he could make the basketball ring from some distance away).

If you could compete at any Olympic event…what would it be and why?