It Was Fun While It Lasted

Sometimes words can't properly describe a situation and that's probably why I haven't really written about Mila and gymnastics. While she's a firecracker wrapped in joy while she's there, she has always been in a "Mommy and Me" style class because OBVIOUSLY. Did you catch the "firecracker" part? The kid likes to explode. A lot.

Basically, I've escorted Mila to every gymnastics class for like a year because somebody has to make sure she doesn't go off on some sort of suicide mission. Which, she's constantly running off on suicide missions. That's why I tackle my kid often. Sometimes there are running tackles involved, even, because she's really willing to just take off and do whatever it is that she wants. All the other kids are walking across the little kid balance beam? Cool. Mila's going to climb the walls and see if she can walk across the rafters instead. Go big or go home, folks.

Needless to say, I've left every gymnastics class EXHAUSTED. I get more steps in that hour than I would if I were to run a marathon.

Mila leaves happy, though. That makes it super worthwhile.

So .... we just started a new session of gymnastics. That means it's time for new teachers and classes and schedules, so a few things changed. Alexis, for example, is now missing her favorite tumbling teacher because he seems to have vanished into thin air. It sucks royally because that man GETS her. He knows how to call her out when she's being a chicken and he knows when she should be pushed just a little bit harder. I'm really hoping he's just on vacation or something. COME BACK TO US, MIKE. Ahem.

Mila has a different teacher this time, too. She has a different teacher because she's too old for the "Mommy and Me" class. I mean, I could put her in one, but for her age, she's supposed to be in a normal class where the parents stay away. She's old enough to listen to a coach without me whispering in her ear and blah, blah, blah.

I really truly expected Mila to get kicked out of the class after one week. She's a jokester, so she thinks it's hilarious to purposely screw up and break rules and such. She ON PURPOSE falls off of the balance beam all of the time. She is all about breaking things and doing whatever else it takes to put on a good show. There's usually running and cackling involved.

There were a few noteable events the first week:

1. The coach said they would likely finish early because attendance was low and Mila would "get worn out." That is not a thing that is possible and I know it. It was fun watching the coach figure it out.

2. Mila didn't get kicked out of the class! HOORAY! She made it all the way through mostly listening to directions and everything. She wasn't perfect, but her behavior fell within the acceptable range.

And then there was this week. ::WOMP::WOMP::

I wasn't there for the class this week. I travelled to Wisconsin for work, but it shouldn't have mattered. Mila just needed to listen and follow directions. She would be SO golden if she did.

The call came yesterday. Mila got kicked out of the class.

BUUUUUT! It wasn't because of her behavior! It was because she was the only one signed up for that particular class! So, basically I've got a kid who has figured out how to be a reasonable member of society, but now she has to join a big group of kids in another class. What are the odds that her good behavior was only because she was enjoying having a personal coach all to herself?

Plans

I don't just expect Alexis to be a good big sister, I demand it. That kid spent years spreading layers of guilt as she begged for a sibling. You can't beg for something and then be like, "Meh. I'm good," and walk away from it.

Fortunately, Alexis meant every syllable of that begging. She truly, deeply loves being a big sister. It's impossible to imagine what her life would have been like if she had stayed an only child because she was definitely meant to be a sibling. Every moment of her existence is a little bit better because Mila is there to follow her around.

And steal her things.

Mila doesn't get new things. There's no reason to buy her toys because I live with hoarders and all of Alexis' toys are still here. Fortunately, Alexis is totally cool with giving Mila all of the things she's outgrown.

And, uh ... things she hasn't outgrown.

Mila worships Alexis. It's a fact. But, I'm not entirely sure if Mila doesn't also worship Alexis' stuff. She has been making it a daily habit to go "shopping" in Alexis' bedroom and claim things as her own. So far she has stolen a blanket, about seven stuffed animals, and a shirt.

I know; the shirt doesn't make sense. It's not like 3-year old Mila can magically wear clothes for a sixth grader. Go ahead and try to tell Mila that. By the way, she has the shirt hidden in her bed. The bed she doesn't sleep in.

::Sigh::

One of the stuffed animals is the point where Mila went too far, though. When we went to Cedar Point a few weeks back, Alexis played a game and won a big stuffed monkey and MAN, SHE WAS SO HAPPY. It was the first time she had ever won a game at a place like that and she was super proud of herself. And then she managed to hold the stuffed animal for about two minutes before Mila decided it was hers.

Alexis was cool about it. Mostly she was cool about it because she was going on rides anyway, but also she was pretty sure Mila would be over the whole thing by the end of the night. She thought she was going to get her monkey back.

She still hasn't gotten her monkey back.

I was complimenting Alexis on how she has handled the whole thing because seriously. She's such a trooper when her kid sister steals stuff. It turns out there's a reason, though ...

"It's okay. When I move out in seven years, I'm going to take all my stuff back and she won't be able to stop me."

Oh.

This Kid's Got Style