We took a moment to connect with some moms who are members of our community. Take a look at how they manage parenting and climbing in their own unique ways.
Happy Mother's Day!
Jessica Christensen
Sender One Member Since 2014
How do you balance motherhood and climbing?
I guess I don’t always see it as a balance since I’ve kind of gotten used to having Miles around. It just is. At first, it took a major lowering of expectations. If we (Erik, Miles, and I) could get out for a day, it was a success even if we only got a couple of routes in. It helps that I am pretty stuck on sport climbing. Trad is another story, actually, a funny but kind of sad one involving Miles. [We] would leave him at the base of Cyclops without realizing he only had a little battery left in his iPad. He was more than a little distraught when we re-emerged from the downclimb. Honestly, more battery and he would have never even noticed.
What is the biggest challenge of being a climbing mom?
The biggest challenge is really trying not to eat all of the rad snacks a 7-year-old’s metabolism can afford to eat.
Do your kids climb? If so, how do you get them excited about climbing?
Miles likes to camp, hike, and scramble and that’s all I care about. He participates in Mighty Monkeys but he likes and is most adept at pretty much any sport. We never push him to climb (or we try really hard not to). Ultimately, I'm good with whatever sport he chooses but it sure works out for him to like what I like for now at least.
What is your favorite thing about being a climbing mom?
Eating his snacks after I climb.
What kind of system do you and your climbing partner have in place when you are out climbing with the kids?
iPad with charge and downloads. We always saved that for the gym or when we are climbing. I know it isn’t an ideal babysitter but it keeps him in one place. Again, it’s also realistic expectations and sport or bouldering (ha) only. He is getting old enough to clean between us so we are trying to get him to set a goal, possibly Cyclops since we goofed on the aforementioned incident.
Do you have any advice for expecting and other climbing moms?
It’s your kid, if you are an okay to great person, then they will be too. Understand that the time with a little kid is so rad and weird and awesome and awful all at the same time and be patient, with them and yourselves. And also, charge the iPad, never plan on wifi, and pack snacks. And whiskey.
Amy Hoffman
Sender One Member Since 2015
How do you balance motherhood and climbing?
I started climbing after my kids did, so this part is easy for me: I climb during my kids’ climbing team practice most of the time, and sometimes meet a friend for my own session on the weekends. As I have grown to love the sport for myself, not just as a mom of kids who climb, I started to set goals for myself and challenge myself to improve, so I try to use my time at the gym well.
What is the biggest challenge of being a climbing mom?
The biggest challenge for me is worry over injuries. Indoor climbing is a safe sport for the most part, but my kids have had several injuries, from mild to fairly serious. After the serious climbing injury my teenaged daughter experienced, I had a really hard time coming back to climbing myself: I had a lot of anxiety and had to really work through that mentally and emotionally in order to get back to a place where I felt joy when climbing again. Seeing her come back even stronger has been such an inspiration to me, so that helped, too!
They do climb...they are both totally hooked on it and are youth competition climbers. There have been periods of time where they hit a plateau or felt less into it, but we just let them take a break if needed or chill out a bit on training, maybe do some outdoor bouldering to shake up the routine, and they have always come back.
What is your favorite thing about being a climbing mom?
I just love the sport and the climbing community. Taking that couple of hours on a weekday to climb hard with friends, just being myself for a minute and not in my mom role, challenging myself, and being totally in the moment on a route...it’s priceless. And of course, it’s wonderful to be able to understand and appreciate what my kids and their friends do as competition climbers; they are amazing!
What kind of system do you and your climbing partner have in place when you are out climbing with the kids?
There are several families that we go outdoors with, mostly bouldering; in general, we just try to make sure we follow good outdoor practices like “leave no trace” and that we are respectful of the parks and crags. Most of the kids are teens or tweens, so they have learned how to be responsible and safe, and we just really enjoy the fresh air and fun times together. Also, we bring lots of snacks, bug spray, sunscreen, and water.
Do you have any advice for expecting and other climbing moms?
I started climbing when my youngest was about 6 years old (he’s 12 now), and I really didn’t think I could do it. I thought I was too out of shape and overweight. Another climbing mom talked me into trying it, and honestly, that was probably one of the best things that have happened to me in my life (thank you, Stephanie!!). My mental and physical health improved so much and I’ve made some wonderful friends. So, my advice would be for the moms whose kids climb, but think they could never do it: try it! You just might fall in love with it like I did.
Jane Chin
Sender One
Member Since 2018
Fortunately, my kid is in a Sender One youth program, so we are both able to climb around the same time! What I appreciate about the youth program is that the coaches are all "on top of things". This means I can trust that my kid's learning skills and getting a good workout, and I can focus on climbing (with my husband). Sometimes "balancing" means having the right "helpers" and "systems" in place for parents, which our family has found with Sender One youth programs.
What is the biggest challenge of being a climbing mom?
My biggest challenge is that I want to use climbing as a way to "get out of my head", but I end up putting too many things "back in my head", such as, "Shouldn't I be climbing harder problems? Why does everything on the Torch feel so scary to me?"... type of self-talk. Then we have the typical "mature climber" problems like risks of injuries and listening to my body's needs to recover with my mind's screaming wants to climb more.
My 13-year old has been climbing for a few years, and he is tremendously motivated by his SenderOne teammates and coaches. He looks forward to each climbing session and has become the one who shepherds us to "get climbing stuff ready" so we can arrive on time for his training sessions. I aspire to notice and praise my son's efforts, versus achievements. Sometimes I use climbing as illustrative examples about fear, failing, and working on things within our control.
What is your favorite thing about being a climbing mom?
Climbing is the only sport/fitness activity that I've stuck with this many years (I started climbing in 2014, in my early 40s). I continually learn new skills and tackle new challenges. I enjoy meeting and chatting with people at the gym. Since my husband also climbs, we are spending many hours of the week literally "holding each other's safety" in our hands -- talk about "extreme couples bonding" time! Climbing is such a huge part of my life because we can climb as a family. As an introvert, the climbing community offers me good enough doses of "social time".
What kind of system do you and your climbing partner have in place when you are out climbing with the kids?
Since our kid is older, we will take turns belaying our son on his rope projects. When our son was younger, we'd make sure he'd have activities to keep himself busy in-between climbs -- whether this is a book or a sketch pad or pieces of paper for origami projects. We'd also look for other peers with whom our son may enjoy climbing with since climbing can be a highly social activity.
Do you have any advice for expecting and other climbing moms?
I'd say listen to your body and to others who are supportive of your climbing goals or efforts. I remind myself that I want to climb for as long as my body allows, and this keeps me balanced in terms of pushing myself and taking rest days from climbing or "easy-going" days at the gym. Definitely focus on the antagonistic muscles that keep your overall body balanced and strong: I've had to learn this the hard way!
Michelle Law
Sender One
Member Since 2018
How do you balance motherhood and climbing?
Climbing is usually a family activity at our house. We try to involve our kids in climbing so it doesn't necessarily need to be an "either/or" relationship to balance motherhood and climbing for me. Otherwise, we're lucky enough that we have a large support system of aunties/uncles and other climbing family friends who can help watch the kids so we can climb.
What is the biggest challenge of being a climbing mom?
The biggest challenge for me is trying to find the time to climb - whether it be ducking out to do a climbing date with a friend while someone watches the kids or taking the whole family to the gym (while working around our 3 yr old's nap schedule) and finding time to squeeze in a climb in between trying to belay our kids so they can climb and then keeping them safe and occupied at the gym so we (my husband and I) can climb. The iPad is a popular choice for us and our kids since it keeps them stationary and not running around the gym. If we can get 3-4 climbs per adult during a visit to the gym with the family, we consider it a wild success.
Do your kids climb? If so, how do you get them excited about climbing?
We have a 7-yr old and a 3-yr old and they both like to climb (the 7-yr old has been climbing since she was 3). We want them to be excited about climbing without it feeling like a compulsory activity so we'll try to encourage and cheer them on as they climb but when they say they want to stop, we don't push them (for now). Usually seeing us, our friends, or even their friends climb makes them want to try (in our case, throwing in a couple of YouTube videos of Ashima climbing also motivated my daughter as well). My daughter is competitive and likes trying new things so she'll get excited to try harder climbs to try to "one-up" mom by doing the same difficulty as me. Recently, I've been pleasantly surprised to see her trying to boulder as well in the gym. With my 3-year-old, I just want him to feel comfortable and safe in the harness, and hopefully seeing his sister climb might motivate him to try to climb higher.
What is your favorite thing about being a climbing mom?
I love that this is one of the few "shared" activities that everyone in the family can participate in and enjoy without real age limits. I like how it helps teach me and my kids how to focus and problem solve at the same time as you climb up a route and that it's a good physical activity for me and my kids.
What kind of system do you and your climbing partner have in place when you are out climbing with the kids?
We try to coordinate with other climbing families and our own families/friends to climb at the same time so that one adult can supervise the kids at a time and give the other adults a chance to climb/belay. We also try to bring activities for our kids (books to read, coloring books...etc) to keep them busy and as a last resort, we always have our trusty old iPad + Netflix to keep them occupied. Also, snacks and drinks are key since we tend to stay for a couple of hours and they will inevitably get hungry.
Do you have any advice for expecting and other climbing moms?
I've found the Sender One community and the families that frequent the gym to be overwhelmingly friendly and kind when it comes to climbing with or without your kids. Don't be afraid to make new friends and acquaintances at the gym or introduce some of your friends and family to the climbing sport so you have a bigger climbing network to call upon to do a group family date at the gym.