There is exactly one thing to do when your toddler can't stop climbing things she shouldn't climb and jumping off of tall objects with absolutely no hesitation - enroll her in gymnastics. I can't stop Mila from being a nut, but I can hope that she will learn to be a nut in a slightly safer manner.
That's the short explanation for why Mila has gymnastics classes now, despite the fact that I'd rather not spend money on organized activities for a kid who earned the nickname "The Runner" three seconds after the first class started. She's not going to follow any instructions EVER, but maybe if she spends 45 minutes every week practicing jumping off of things, she will figure out how to do it in a way that will save lives.
Yes, LIVES. I'm hoping it will save her from killing herself and save me from having a heart attack because seriously. I'm not exaggerating or joking in the slightest when I say I have to drag her off the top of the kitchen table daily. She gets up there so she can swing from the chandelier. SERIOUSLY. EVERY DAY.
The longer explanation for why Mila has gymnastics classes now is that the heavens opened up, angels sang, and the most perfect light shone down on my attempts at scheduling. Mila has class immediately before the class Alexis wanted to take. Like, I drive across town for TWO classes! One right after the other! The only way the whole thing could get better would be if they were to have simultaneous classes. I won't hold my breath waiting for that magic.
The fun thing about the situation is that Mila has been trying SO hard for a long time to cross the wall in the at the gymnastics place. She has been going there to watch Alexis practice flipping and such her entire life. Literally. Mila was two weeks old when Alexis attended a tumbling camp. Then there was another camp, then a class, and then another class and the whole time Mila stood on the sidelines, on the wrong side of the wall, questioning why she couldn't go run across the entire gym. She has informed me many times that there is a slide and a tunnel RIGHT THERE OMG LET ME GOOOOOO.
And then I did.
And it was glorious.
Mila's first class was full of examples of how she doesn't listen because she already has everything in life figured out. She wouldn't sit in the hula hoop and stretch, but did you see that pile of mats over there? She can jump off of them! Over and over! Mila laughed as she jumped, she laughed as she fell from the rings, and she giggled with glee when she fell from the uneven bars.
And, man, that kid acted like she owned the place. I don't know that I have ever seen her quite that happy for quite that long.
But then class ended.
I didn't consider how much of a challenge that part might be. I also didn't consider that there actually was another level of fit throwing that Mila could achieve. I thought I had seen her best. I HAD NOT, MA'AM. She didn't just throw a fit at the end of the class, she maintained that fit for over an hour.
"I NASSY-STICKS!" She yelled that so many times, I had time to figure out how to ignore her screams.
I can't wait to do it again next week.
