With the cool weather here, I knew there was no stifling Emma’s never-ending energy. So, we signed her up for gymnastics once a week. The perfect way to get her used to following directions, making new friends, and most importantly, working out all of her “wigglies.”
She really likes it, and her teacher is very patient with the fact that Emma seems to notice everything in the room. I thanked her teacher for her patience the other day, and she just smiled and said, “She’s just very detailed oriented.” In the beginning, I didn’t know if I liked this teacher — she was young and not as animated as some of the other teachers — but after that response, she won me over.
The class is organized, but laid back. They let the kids try out everything — balance beams, parallel bars, rings. Emma’s already learning forward and backward rolls and cartwheels. It doesn’t exactly come naturally to her, but then I have to remind myself that she’s only 3. And she is busy. So I just let her have fun and back off of my perfectionist tendencies. A lesson I’m sure I will continue to learn as the years pass.
Emma has warmed up to a fellow gymnast named Lilly, who is a cute little peanut. In fact, she’s the niece of one of Jeff’s childhood friends, so Lilly’s mom and I already know each other. We chat as we watch the girls though the window — and as I chase Kendall around the waiting area. I have to say it’s a nice 50-min break from the norm for all of us.
And, of course, Miss Emma loves wearing her leotard. She actually takes her nap in it on gymnastic days so that she can get up and go right away. Once we get home, it must stay on until everyone gets home and sees her in it. I have to say, she does look pretty darn cute in the thing.
The only drawback to our new activity is that Emma somehow manages to come home with MORE energy than before the class. I’m not sure why that surprises me. But as long as we continue to point this energy in a positive direction, I’m thinking there is no telling what this girl can do. I just hope I can keep up with her.
