The next level.

We finally faced the glaring reality that B was ready to move on from the parent-tot gymnastics class to the tiny tot class (which is actually the exact same class, just no parent involvement and the kids are three and four instead of 18 mos to three). All week she was really excited about being in the "big girl class" and even though she was cautioned that it wouldn't be the "really big girls," just kids more her age than C's age, she was still a little unclear on exactly what would be happening. She remained excited until it was time for her to go with Miss Kelsey for the class without mama. Then she freaked out.

It was a very trying experience for T and B, because one was clearly and naturally nervous over starting something new and the other was utterly unprepared but fully convinced that this was an important life lesson, the ramifications of which would undoubtedly be long lasting. (We'll leave it to you to decide which one is which.) They spent a lot of the 45 minutes of class talking about being nervous and how everyone feels that way when they start something new, and that there was no going backwards; simply put, if B wants to keep doing gymnastics she must do this class. There were no other options.

It might, to the untrained eye, appear suspiciously like bribery, but T told B that if she went ahead with the class despite being nervous that we would be so proud of her that we would allow her to pick a book from the bookstore after. After sitting and observing the class for a bit, B pointed to the older girls on the big beams and said "I thought I was going to do that." T explained that in order to be able to do what the big girls were doing, B would have to go through all the levels in order so she could learn the skills required to do the fancy tricks. Miss Kelsey joined them and asked B what her favorite part of gymnastics was; T answered for her that it was the beam, and in an instant B stood up said "I can do it" and walked over to wait in line for her turn on the beam. She did wonderfully, until the end when she couldn't see us and had a slight meltdown; but T went and talked to her and she finished the class out strong. Assuring us that she wasn't nervous anymore and next time she will do the entire class.

We are so proud of her for facing her fears and moving forward despite being nervous. And we are completely relieved that it ended the way it did and we aren't having to take her out of gymnastics altogether, because we know she really enjoys it. Also it means the lesson learned was a positive one. She did get to pick out a book at the bookstore, Knuffle Bunny Too: a tale of mistaken identity by Mo Willems. We wanted to really impress upon her how proud we are of her, not for taking the class but for moving past the nerves and fear; because this is something she will come up against over and over again and we want her to know that we have faith in her and that she should have faith in herself too.

Starting next week, B will take class Thursday afternoons and there will be no reason for the whole family to go down for Saturday morning classes anymore. It will most likely just be C and J that go, while T stays home to do homework and B stays or goes as she chooses. This is a big change for us; we've been going to the Race Street gym almost every Saturday for a year and a half. We can't move backwards though, we must keep moving forward and embracing the new adventure, different as it may be from what we're used to. A lesson B learned today, and in which we were given a bit of a refresher!