Gymnastics

Madison started taking a parent and tots gymnastics class when she was 2 years old. She has been in gymnastics ever since. Molly started when she was two as well. We have been fortunate that they girls have their classes on the same day and time. We usually go to gymnastics, then go out for a family dinner every Wed. evening. They go to a christian based gym called Twigs. It is a little bit of a drive, bit it's worth it. A friend of ours manages the place and we like their philosophy. Some programs are very competitive and push the kids a lot. At Twigs they are learning a lot but in a more relaxed setting. Madison is hard enough on herself. The relaxed setting is great for her. When ever she does something well, she looks up at us and gives us the thumbs up. Next year she might start competing at meets. We have really loved all of their teachers. They have come so far! We can't believe the things they can do now. Duane and I can remember chasing them both around during their parent and tot class. I think I was pregnant during both of their parent and tot classes. That made chasisng them around all the more challenging. We didn't think they would ever get into a routine, sit still and listen to the teachers instructions or take turns. But in time they both did. It was another parenting lesson learned for us. In time things will eventually fall into place. Last week we noticed that Molly was with a different teacher. After class the teacher told us that they wanted to move Molly into the five year old class since she just had a birthday. We explained to the teacher that she just turned 4. The teacher was surprised because of Molly's size and the fact that when they asked her if she was 5 she said yes! She can be such a stinker:) She actually did really well with the 5 year olds so we all decided to keep her there and see how it goes. She blends right in. When she was in the 4 year old class, we noticed that she was being a mother hen to the smaller girls. She has the need to take care of them because they are "little" to her. In actuality they are the same age. She just seems so much older. I think it's the same case in her ballet class. Duane and I take turns chasing Mallory around in the observation room. We are enjoying the fact that we can both be there together to watch their class. On occasion when Mallory lets us, we actually have an adult conversation. We know the older they get, the more we will have to divide and concer with their activities. They have five more weeks left, then we'll take the summer off. We all like gymnastics, but we're willing to trade it for Wed. evenings at the pool for a few months.