Sitting is good for you

For 21 years, I’ve sat. I’ve sat and held babies all day long. I’ve sat and read books out loud for hours at a time. I’ve sat every day, waiting in the carpool line. I’ve sat through bazillions of concerts, volleyball games, basketball games, field hockey games, and lacrosse games. I’ve sat through tons of assemblies and listened as folks droned on and on and on. I’ve sat in the car to drive all morning to visit campus for a few hours, and then sat in the car to drive all afternoon to get home. I’ve sat and listened to my kid talk, countless times. I’ve sat and held her when things went wrong. I’ve sat and squeezed her when things went right.

A few days ago, I sat for my kid’s college graduation. All those decades of sitting felt like just a few minutes. I had no idea being a parent required so much sitting, but all of that time spent in a chair has been one of the most profoundly meaningful things I’ve ever done.

Here’s a cheer for all of the parents who sit! Sitting may be tough on our backs, but being in that chair is vitally important to the kid who looks out into the audience and sees you there, cheering for her.