And so it begins. Gymnastics

Back in the spring, I had signed the girls up for one 1/2 day of gymnastics camp during April school vacation week. Our gym has two options for vacation week camps:

• Ages 3 - 6 (Preschool and kindergartners)
• Ages 6+ (Beginners)

I had asked their coach ahead of time if the girls could attend the beginner camp seeing as they were in the correct age group and she said that it would be fine. Unfortunately, Allie started puking the night before and by the end of the week when she was no longer sick, the only camp left was the other one, which was absolutely fine.  Not a big deal at all.

Registration for summer gymnastics classes began last month.  I'm so happy that our gym actually has weekly classes during the summer.  Yippee for summer activities!  I picked up the registration form from the the office and noticed that they had the same two options I listed above.  They also had other classes, some of which were labeled by color.  I know how levels in gymnastics work and the fact that the gym we attend doesn't have levels 1 through 3. I wasn't quite sure how they split out the kids who weren't in a level though.

When I asked at the office if I could register the girls for the summer beginner class, I was told that I should talk to the coach first.  Oh, crap.  I'm going to be told that they should stay in the kindergarten class for the summer.  I was sort of bummed because there's a big difference between a three year old and a six year old and I felt that my girls would benefit from being with the older girls.  Turns out, I was fretting for no reason.  I was told that Allie is just about ready to skip the beginner class and it was suggested that I register the girls for a summer class that takes place at the same time as the next group up, so that Allie can train with those kids.

At about the same time, fall registration opened up and I was told that Allie was placed in the class above the beginners for the fall.  There was some hesitation on the part of the gym to relay this information to me and I had to be the one to say, "Hey, I realize that they have different skills.  It's okay to split them up."  Luckily, there's one day with both classes at the same time.  So while logistically, we're all set, there's another side to all of this.  There's now a noted difference between the three of them.  Emily seemed to take it the hardest at first.  She wasn't necessarily upset that Allie was in a higher group; it was more a matter of her wanting to be in her own class.  It took about a week or so for her to get over it, so to speak.  Now Emily and Anna tell everyone that they're buddies because they're going to be in the same gymnastics class, they were partners in the ballet dance for the recital and they were on the same color team for field day at school.

I've already started telling the girls those "when I was younger stories."  When I was younger, I so badly wanted to take dance and gymnastics but when I was growing up, you didn't ask your parents to sign you up for activities.  They did it for you and you went whether you liked it or not.  I played little league baseball (with a hard ball) and then softball because my parents signed me up for it.  Was I any good?  Not really.  At only six years old, kids are still discovering the world and I want to be able to introduce my kids to things that they may enjoy.  (I also think it's crazy how everything starts so young now.  I sometimes feel like if you aren't in an activity by the age of 7 or 8, you've missed the boat.)        

They all want to take dance lessons in the fall again.  They are now old enough to take other classes, like jazz and hip hop.  They haven't decided exactly which one(s) they want to pursue and maybe Emily will be in a class on her own. We may also attempt tennis lessons this summer.  I always tell them that they just need to try.  I'll be happy if they try. And they do.  Not everyone is going to be a superstar at everything and I always praise them for doing the best they can.

Last month, I asked the girls if any of them were interested in running.  I know it's a premature question; that's an activity I wouldn't suggest they pursue until they are in middle school.  But Anna told me that she was going to run with me when she's older.  I have absolutely no doubt that she will.