Gymnastics

Last night was week #3 of gymnastics at Sonoma's new gym.  I put her in the park district gymnastics class last year when she was 18 months old.  It was a good starting point, but I was anxious to get her into a "real" gym and have something a little more serious.  Well, I certainly got what I wished for!  After week #1 at our new gym, I was shocked at how intense it was.  Honestly, I wasn't sure we would make it past week #1.  I also remembered why I didn't like coaching 3 year olds when I was a coach!  Sonoma was so distracted with other classes going on, the team practicing, and just how busy the gym was in general, and it made me really stressed out.  She didn't want to listen to the coach, all of the other kids had clearly been going to that gym for quite a while, and if I wasn't a former gymnast myself, I probably would have been completely lost with all of the lingo and technique that is already assumed.  However, week #2 and week #3 were AMAZING.  Sonoma completely surprised me.  I think that after she knew what to expect and how things were gonna go down, she was able to focus and work really hard.  We also have a lot of discussions about gymnastics throughout the day leading up to her class, and we talk about how good she has to be and how she has to listen to coach.  She did such an incredible job last night, I was so very proud!  She has been swinging on bars, landing in the big pit, working back handsprings on the floor, tumble track, and trampoline, as well as cartwheels and backwards rolls.  She is a pro at balance beam so far, and really strong on rings.  She had been begging us to do gymnastics ever since the Summer Olympics.  She asked us almost every day!  She also loves her coach!  I think this will be a really positive experience for Sonoma.