Viewpoints

Today I took Patches to his first ever Gym class. He was uncertain about going and so I scheduled my time so I could stay and be with him if he needed me. He needed me for the first 5 minutes. Then he needed me briefly near the end when he was sad. Other than that he mostly ignored me in the parents waiting area. I’m glad because it means that next week I can go run a few errands while he has his class.

Sitting in the waiting room was interesting because I got to eavesdrop on the conversations of other moms who were watching thier kids in Patches class. In particular I listened to two women. For both of them the 3 year old was their oldest child. They were both obviously pregnant. One had two kids the other had three. I listened to them discussing behaviors and potty training and I remembered being them. I remember being stress about the things that they were stressing over. I remember being buried under the needs of multiple young children. It seems odd that I’ve moved beyond that. Now in conversations about toddler behavior I get to be the voice-of-experience rather than the frustrated/stressed seeker-of-answers. When did that happen? I also wonder what, of the things I am thoroughly stressed about right now, will seem like no big deal in a few more years.

Gleek also attended her gymnastics class today. She last took a gym class when she was Patches age. I was amazed at the behavioral difference a couple of years can make. She did much better at following instructions and staying with the group. And when it came time to leave I didn’t have to physically grab her and carry her to the car. I think Little Gym is going to be good for all of us.

Tomorrow Kiki and Link have thier classes. The day after that is the first day of school. The summer has finally wound down to a close. Only the weather doesn’t seem to know it. It was over 90 degrees out today. Tomorrow is supposed to be hotter. Tell me again why I should be buying sweaters for back to school clothes?