Today we did what we always do on Saturday. We went to gymnastics class. As a mom I never understood why parents enjoyed spending their entire weekend dragging themselves to some boring kids sport. Like we thought was expected, we tried all the main sports for our oldest. But it was a miserable experience every time. The kid hated each sport and spent the entire time sulking on the sidelines and refusing to play. Then three weeks after it ended he wanted to play. By then we’d spent 10 weeks in the cold or rain or blistering sun with him refusing to even try and we wouldn’t go back for anything. Sorry kid, we call that natural consequences around here.
Then we tried gymnastics. Finally it stuck for us all. He loves the class and practices all week of his own volition. His teacher wisely told him he could go to college for free if he does 20 push ups a day. The message being that you stick with something every day for the next 11 years and you really can get a scholarship. I love the message, and he loves the class. But more than that I found something I never understood. That it is incredibly rewarding to watch your child succeed at something. I suppose that is the real reason soccer moms sit in the cold, then the rain, then the blistering sun every weekend. When my son tries and tries and then GETS IT, I watch him almost bursting with pride. Wow. Now I understand. Not to mention the powerful lesson of trying and failing, then to try until you succeed.
So tonight I found myself at the not so young and spry age of almost 36 demonstrating a back bend in the living room. I must admit I thought about it all day and wasn’t sure it was such a good idea. For starters, due to a birth injury my back bends must be done one armed. Add to that a pretty terrible back anyway and I’m sure you are also wondering what I was thinking. But I did it, to the amazement of my son and husband. Then I spotted my son while he did it himself and then kicked over to land on his feet. For his part, my amazing husband has been doing those 20 push ups every day as well. I can see the health of our whole family improving as strive to encourage each other. It makes me feel even prouder, and happy to be a part of such a thing. So soccer mom’s everywhere, I salute you. I get it now.
