Hallie's got class!

That's right! Every Tuesday and Thursday at the community center, Hallie's got class. She's got a busier calendar than Mom. First, you should have a little background information on 'why now' as opposed to 'then' or 'later'. A year ago we registered our little tactile-kinesthetic darling for a 'creative movement' dance class through parks and rec and asked to be refunded a week later. You see, what was described in a couple sentences was a class to teach rhythm and movement. What we received upon registration was a letter from the teacher stating that parents were not allowed in the room (which I understand COMPLETELY), and that it was preferred that girls have a leotard and ballet shoes but, if needed, could wear shorts and borrow shoes. Borrow shoes? Ewwwww! Anyway, we felt that "suggesting" a uniform (which, incidentally, cost more than the session) and not allowing parents in was perhaps a little too intense for parks and rec so Hallie had to dance in all her usual places; school, the market, Toys R Us, any open area with music playing...

This year we had a few more options available to us and the pediatrician suggested gymnastics so we enrolled Hallie in tumbling and cooking. She was thrilled about cooking each week and though the enthusiasm for tumbling waned, she was still happy to be rolling around on those mats and springing from the trampolines. Each was well worth the $30+ as she emerged from the experience with some new skills and added maturity.


Tuesdays she tumbled. and ran, and jumped, and rolled and bounced. She built up some arm and leg strength and though there were (too) MANY children in the class, she had plenty of turns on the various apparatus and listened well. Stretching was not a favorite activity as it requires too much of the sitting still for her but she tolerated it. She watched Coach Eric carefully and quite accurately mimicked his motions. She was good about waiting in line (most of the time) and was SO polite and respectful in comparison to many of the others in the class. Given some of the parents as examples, the kids were horribly accurate mimics as well. We won't get started on those OTHER parents though lest we take away from the glory that is Hallie's. This was, as are most childhood events, a learning experience on many levels. Best of all, she gained some willingness to try new equipment and learned to do a somersault! She'll be happy to show it off! She is so proud.


Thursdays were for a weekly food services experience just down the hall from tumbling. Hallie dipped right in (pun fully intended) as the first class recipe was hot spinach artichoke dip and chunky fruit punch. I have to admit that when she came out, all smiles, with her plate of chips and dip, I had to put on my game face and eat her creation. It was good - just not a fan. She and Daddy polished it off with ease and I asked for more after it was all finished. The weeks went by, each with a new menu item to experience. The chef really had it down to a science. She had enough pre-made that it could be accomplished in a half an hour while allowing the children to cut mix and portion the food. By the time the class had run it's course, Hallie and her culinary cohorts had made vegetable quesadillas, minestrone soup and garlic bread, a s'more like muffin, chocolate cupcakes and fruit & nut dreams. All were delicious - especially since Hallie was so proud to share her accomplishments with us.


It was very amusing to see Hallie's demeanor change when she entered that building for cooking rather than tumbling. She was more subdued and patient for the teacher to begin. Whoever thinks teachers are just bodies in front of a room and are overpaid, glorified babysitters (plenty of offense taken) should see the difference in something as simple as a 4 year old's approach to each of these situations. Cooking class had expectations, a curriculum, lesson plans and a female chef who mapped out each lesson using a repeated format and schedule. Do you think a 4 yr old can't rise to those expectations? Ours can - wow! Who knew? Now, the tumbling class wasn't bad at all but, it was overcrowded, different each week and had a male coach. Not better or worse - just different. Each had exceptional experience and patience for preschoolers (that yours truly does not possess) as well as an obvious enjoyment of the job. There was a bit of teacher mentality vs. coach mentality and, though not mutually exclusive, one skill usually outshines the other. Clearly each was in his or her proper place. Both were teachers and had the best interests at heart as well as an awareness of some pretty individual needs. They did an amazing job of learning the names of the children they needed to and knew how to read the room. How's that for community center classes? Pretty good.