The “Dundas” tongue is going to get Reid into trouble

August 1, 2007 by Barbara.

We went to gymnastics class again last night. Again, I forgot to wear capris or pack shorts but unlike last week I decided real women attend gymnastics in their dresses. Okay, we didn’t have much time since I’d also forgotten to bring a snack and so had to stop on my way. My dress was nearly suitable and, as Ken will attest, no men go into the gym.

Reid was ready to try each activity and offered a quick “yes” whenever the instructor asked if the kids were ready to do whatever she had just explained. Most of the first set of activities were similar to previos weeks, with handstands, dismounts, sommersaults and tunnel. There were rings at the next station in addition to parallel bars for making a tunnel on and a bar for hanging from by the hands and feet. There was also a ladder at a 35 degree angle on for climbing. Reid had to go to the very top rung on it, of course.

On the trampoline the instructor explained to the kids how they were to bounce a few times and then make a star shape in mid-air before bouncing again. The thought of what we’d see made me smile. The instructor said that the kids wouldn’t actually open and close their stars in mid-air and that was okay. Reid, as I noted last week, doesn’t like the feeling of being out of control on the trampoline. Doing star jumps, though, offered much greater stability. Her jumps started out and ended as stars for the most part and when she tried to jump and then do the stars sometimes, too. The instructor also showed how to do a jump-sit-jump combination but the kids had only to do the jump-sit parts. Reid liked this best. For all of her trampoline work, Reid concentrated very hard. And, of course, she stuck out tongue while she did. It’s one of those blessings that she has inherited from me. I was worried for her. I love her little, pink tongue tip and would hate to see it lying on the trampoline next to her.

Our homework, I’ve decided, is to practice hopping like a kangaroo. Reid hops a couple times and then switchs to a bouncy sort of run. With the instructor drawing circles on the trampoline and saying that the kids need to stay within it, I think perfecting kangaroo jumps would be a good thing. And learning to do it with her tongue in her mouth would be a bonus. ;+)

By the end of the class, Reid had a big smile, sweaty body and a red face - a 30 degree day, exercise and no air conditioning will do that to you. I’m glad that we’re trying gymnastics out together. The classes are for 18-36 months or 3-4 years and I thought Reid would like the extra mama-support. It was the right decision, I think.

Now, I’m faced with the decision of whether to continue and, if so, whether to send her alone. Keeping her in would mean two weeknight activities (swimming is a given) plus Kindermusik on Saturday. What do you think?

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