On Friday last week, Minnie had her very last parent-child class at The Little Gym, which means I had my very last parent-child class at The Little Gym. Unless, of course, I take a grandkid or dozen there someday. I SHOULD BE SO LUCKY.
When I took my first parent-child class at The Little Gym in 2007 with 9-month-old Harry, Ben and I had just bought our first house (that old albatross of a condo), and the gym was a pricey commitment for us on one real (starter) salary and one grad student’s wages. I lobbied hard for it, though, and we had at least one kid in class from 2007-2019, and then Minnie started up in 2022. I did parent-child class until age 3 with all 5 of them, and they have all done some independent gymnastics and/or sports skills classes, too. And the birthday parties! We’ve had so many birthday parties there. TLG has been such a gift, and I think the attention the curriculum pays to the vestibular system and its development is why Jack and Cooper have both been such innately good divers.
We had a makeup class on our account, so Minnie and I actually did 2 classes last week, and I remembered to remember every second— chasing her in the gym for play time, helping her demonstrate the skills, the chaos of ball and bubble time, the sweet circle at the end.
Thanks for the parent-child class memories, TLG.
But also! Now she goes into the gym, and I sit in the lobby and drink coffee. So, I mean, that sounds pretty great, too.
Oh wow, end of an era indeed!!
ReplyDeleteI already miss having babies. But not enough to have another baby.
DeleteSo fun! The end of an era - gah. I feel like we've had some of those ourselves lately and I have A LOT OF FEELINGS. Like I love who my kids are becoming, but also want to freeze time. Parenting is just full of conflicting emotions.
ReplyDeleteYes! So much ambivalence so often.
DeleteI love the flashback photos of your other "beasts." That is a very apt name for this age group! Ha! I started taking the boys to a similar place last summer and it's been so great for both of them. I have to say I am VERY excited for the day when I don't have to participate in class and can watch from the sidelines. But endings like this can be bittersweet since I know you've loved taking your kids to these classes!
ReplyDeleteIt IS nice to sit in the libby and relax. Not as nice as not going in the water at swim lessons, but still pretty great.
DeleteAww.. I also have such sweet memories of watching my daughters in gym class.. and ballet! Now that was a blast! Those chubby little legs!😍 I love kids and I kinda miss those days.. but that’s how it goes, and they’re pretty grown and healthy now, thankfully… ❤️ -Ricki
ReplyDeleteBALLET-- the CUTEST. Minnie starts next month
DeleteI feel this is going to be huge for you... hope the extra reading/grading time makes up for it. Internet hugs.
ReplyDeleteSo far just extra staring at my phone time.
DeleteOmg, this is worse than when my daughter was done with the amazingly amazing JK teacher my son also had and I told my husband producing kids for Catherine Maulsby's class was a perfectly good reason to keep getting pregnant.
ReplyDeleteSOUNDS LIKE A GOOD REASON TO ME
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