Last week we started Hannah and Rachel in gymnastics on Saturday morning. They have separate classes at the same time. This week I took Hannah, while "The Best Daddy Ever" watched from the balcony (last week he had her while I watched).
I gotta tell you, Hannah is this rocket of wild, unchanneled physical energy. At gymnastics I just point her body in the direction she's supposed to go and she's at it with this crazy force. She especially loves rolling sideways down the foam slide, but she's all over the place so I have to be there directing this ball of excited energy down the mat. Then I'm placing my hands on either side of her and guiding her towards another mat, showing her how to place her hands on the the stars, wait for her to fold her head under so she can flip into a frenzic somersalt. When I take my hands away from either side of her, she's off, heading towards who knows where, some mats? the foam pit? Not sure, I pick her up and head back to the group. Then it's time to head towards the rings. Hannah likes the idea of the swinging, but doesn't quite get the fact that she's got to grab onto the rings tightly with her hands. When the teacher starts swinging her she let's go and plops to the floor. They try it again and the teacher cradles her as they're swinging and Hannah has this blissful look on her face as she's swinging back and forth. When she's on the trampoline she shoots forward running into she falls splat on her face, and then she gets up and rockets forward again and again. She continues running once she's off the trampoline and she's going so fast that I have to catch her before she run right off the end of the foam.
Hannah's body is foreign and fascinating to me. She's got these real muscles on her little body. She's pure athleticism, her body singing with a need to move. I was athletic as a child, but nothing like this. it's a curiosity to me.
In the midst of guiding Hannah, I take looks at Rachel all grown up and on her own in the three year old class. I remember when she was the wild toddler, running off in all the directions. She had a big toddler tummy then and a head of blond curls. I look over at her now and I am struck by her poise and grace. She's got the same curls, but now her hair is longer, and her tall body is lean and steady. She's jumping on the trampoline and turning directions in mid-air. She's got her hands on the shoulders of the child in front of her as they move forward to the next activitiy. She's quietly concentrating on walking on the balance beam all by hesfelf. She's a picture of grace. My Rachel. My beautiful girl.
My beautiful girls.
Gymnastics
