Gymnastics

So we signed up Kaylee for gymnastics, and she had her first session this past Tuesday (1/15/2013). She was AMAZING! It is truly her first no-parent activity and she was fantastic. See YouTube for the videos.

It all started 2 Thursday's ago, while Kaylee and I were discussing the day before bedtime. I remembered how much I've talked about getting us into a routine, get us doing things that would require us to wake up before 10am and get our day started. I wanted to do this so that when preschool actually starts (our plan is to start her in September 2013), Kaylee won't be shocked with the idea of needing to go to bed before 9pm and waking up before 10am. So, that Thursday night I found a gymnastics gym nearby, showed Kaylee pictures, and she totally wanted to do it. Then I told her that there were 2 classes that she could take. One was a parent-participate class, and the other was not and that I would be sitting in a chair watching. I asked her which one she wanted to take. Kaylee thought about it for a second, then said "Hummm, I think I want you to sit in a chair." So I said okay, and showed her were I would be sitting (there is a picture on the website www.gyminnykids.com), and explained that there is an evaluation to determine which class they will allow you to take. She then asked what she would do in the evaluation. I told her that I wasn't sure but I would think that they would like to see how well you listen to the instructor. So she falls asleep and I run downstairs to tell Curtis that the next morning I was going to call and schedule the assessment, and hoping it would be for that day. The next morning I call and am totally bummed that the earliest we can get is Tuesday. Curtis is bummed too because he would be at work. So, Tuesday comes along, Curtis came down with illness and was unable to make it to work. After a quick correction of her age and a quick change of instructor (female to male, which I was afraid would throw Kaylee off) Kaylee goes off with the instructor. The first comment the gymnastic instructors say is, "oh, she walks on her toes." Oops, got that from Mommy. So, 10 minutes later she is back with us and is beaming and we couldn't be more proud of her. The instructor said she can be in the Pre-Crickets, which is the no parents class, and comments on how strong she is. Curtis goes off to sign her up and Kaylee is still smiling and say, "I didn't get to do the rings.". I said maybe you will in the class. And then she goes, "That's it?!". I say yes, she starts to cry and says, "I want to do more." Oh, it was so hard to explain that we have to wait for a week before we come back, and that it would be a longer class, and that she might do the rings then. So, after a few tears we take her to a park and play for 2 hours.

So the first class is full of other first-time students, which I was glad for. When Kaylee walked out onto the gymnastics floor she waves to me and says, "Go upstairs now." Ah, okay child. I head upstairs with the other parents and record everything so Curtis doesn't miss out. He'll probably get that darn illness again in a few weeks. Kaylee did great listening to the instructor even with other kids around that may or may not be listening. She found me several times and waved. And at the end she was eagerly looking for me. She goes to get her shoes and sweater and then lays out onto the floor and goes, "I'm so tired and staarrving!". Looks like gymnastics is a keeper!