Super Mondays

Parachute Time at Gymnastics

* Disclaimer: The photos are a bit shaky. It's hard to catch a 3 year old in action, especially when he doesn't want his picture taken.

When I began staying home full-time last month Edmund began a new preschool. He loved his old "big boy" school, but with the distance and cost Steven and I knew we would have to make a change. Edmund now attends Resurrection United Methodist Preschool which he refers to as "Jacob's School." (Jacob is our neighbor who also attends.) Despite the transition, Edmund seems to be loving Resurrection and often has to be told to wave good-bye to mommy because he is just "too busy." Steven and I have definitely been happy with our decision to move Edmund and Edmund has enjoyed getting to make new friends and having a multitude of play dates with the old.

Because Edmund only attends school Tuesdays through Thursdays we now have Mondays and Fridays to fill with our own activities. I've found getting around a bit more cumbersome as my pregnancy progresses, so I try to stick with simple adventures. Some days we take a short walk to the neighborhood park to skip stones in the pond, other days we go to our favorite nearby museums, and still others we simply set up shop at home doing crafts or playing sports galore in our driveway. Recently, we've gotten into a Monday routine of activities. This began when Edmund tried out gymnastics in mid-February.
In January Edmund passed by a gymnastics facility that had briefly relocated to a small mall in Chapel Hill and got it in his head that, by golly, he was going to try gymnastics. When he didn't forget, I signed him up for a trial class at Orange County Gymnastics. He had a great time and the teacher was phenomenal with his age group. I was able to register him for one month instead of a whole semester, so until the end of March, gymnastics is Edmund's weekly activity.

Because of Edmund's gross motor delay there are some aspects of gymnastics that are tricky for him, and he often wants to give up. The teacher and her assistant are both parents themselves and encourage him to try at least once. They don't force him to go beyond the one try and will give him assistance to build his confidence. I've been so pleased with this because, "I can't", is a phrase we're hearing more and more from Edmund. He's a kid who doesn't want to fail, so instead refuses to try. Knowing I was a similar kid myself it's important to me that Edmund gets that one try in. As much as I'm loving that Edmund is enhancing his gross motor skills in gymnastics, I'm even more thrilled the teachers are reinforcing the lessons we are teaching at home. Gymnastics won't be a long-term activity for Edmund, but I'm so glad he pushed me to sign him up. He's excited about being eligible for sports next year, and gymnastics has taught him that if you want to be an athlete you have to try and practice to learn new skills.

After our first day at gymnastics Edmund and I left and headed to Chapel Hill Public Library. We were pleasantly surprised to learn that story time for 3-5 year olds is offered just following gymnastics since our library in Durham only offers preschool story time while Edmund is at school. Edmund enthusiastically grabbed a ticket for story time that first day, and has asked to go back almost every Monday since. It is the perfect cool down after an exhausting physical workout. The parents at preschool story time sit back and for the most part act as if they aren't there. We are given the option to leave, but I'm so glad I haven't yet since Edmund has said some hilarious things.

Today's theme was bugs. The librarian asked the children if they like bugs. All but one little girl raised her hand. Edmund said "I like bugs, but not mosquitoes and bees because they sting." I'm with you on that Edmund. The librarian and the children spent the next few minutes discussing different kinds of bugs before jumping into stories and songs. Edmund said, "you know what? Beetles are bugs that roll poop." Not missing a beat the librarian said, "yes, dung beetles do that." Then Edmund replied, "you know what poop is? OK let me tell you." At this point I kind of wished I had left and sunk down against the wall. I wasn't sure where this was going. Edmund continued, "first you eat food, then it goes into your tummy and gets smushed up, and then it comes out your bottom." To my surprise the children took in this science lesson with no silly giggles and the librarian acknowledged Edmund and moved on. It was the parents who had to do their best not to laugh. Edmund remained engaged for the stories and had a great time with the hide-and-seek rhyming activity, "Bug Under a Rug." When gymnastics ends we'll definitely continue with story time, especially on those days we simply have to get out.

Our adventures over the past month haven't been exciting in the traditional sense, but as they've been things we would not have been able to do while I was working they're exciting for us. I'm liking our little routine for the moment, but also look forward to finding out what other mischief we can get into now that I have the flexibility.