Liam's Gymnastics Class

We recently enrolled Liam in gymnastics.  His class meets at the same time as Ava's class.  With Doug working on the retaining wall lately, he can use all the kid-free weekend time he can get, to make optimal progress.  I always take Liam with me to Ava's gymnastics class, where I've tried to keep him occupied for an hour.  No small feat.  I've had a few spilled cups of coffee (due to him tap-dancing around my chair for sixty minutes).  Inevitably he always got bored by the end of the hour, too.  When I saw a set of three year-old triplets enrolled in a class this past summer, my original thought was "why would you enroll a three year-old in gymnastics?  Isn't it a bit early?" 

Enrolling him in gymnastics is better than having him sit around for an hour, twiddling his thumbs... I was curious to see if he would have more fun participating.

During the beginning of the first class, he initially clung to my leg, but slowly eased up and eventually participated in class.  He seemed to have so much fun!  He did really well on the balance beam.  He wobbled across the entire length of the beam, but he didn't fall off!  It's entertaining for me to watch him in class.  :)  The second week was not a success.  At. All.  He didn't want to participate.  (I asked Ava if she would hang back with Liam before class and walk him out onto the gym floor.  She was so excited, she ran out to the floor without him.  That probably didn't help.  After a few attempts getting him to participate, I gave up.  It was seriously frustrating!  When I got home with Liam, he was "Your son" to Doug.  As in, "Your son didn't participate today.  It was seriously frustrating."  ;-) 

After some serious pep talks during the week that followed, he decided he was going to participate during the next (third) class.  He did amazingly well!  He was listening more to his teacher, waiting for his turn.  He even did a "tabletop" when Coach Alec has all of the kids (including Ava's class) stretching.  He seems to especially like the bar, from which he hangs like a little monkey.  I'm so glad he decided to participate! 

I am hoping that, through participating in this class he will:

1. Learn how to listen to his teachers even more.
2. Follow directions well.
3. Become more coordinated, to minimize future accidents!
4. Builds self confidence.

Hey, if this helps us minimize stitches, I'm all for it!  I've already seen a difference in his demeanor during the class.  He seems to be more receptive to the teacher's guidance now.  And he knows the teacher will show him how to "learn new tricks."  He's always game for that.  :)

Peace, love and more tumbling / less tumbles,
Shelly, Doug, Ava and Liam