Last night I attended a Ballet class. I’ve been needing something for awhile. I wanted something physical that would get me out of the house and moving sans children. It was Howard’s game night, so I left Kiki in charge of the other three kids and went for a free trial class.
It was wonderful to get moving, but I wasn’t completely satisfied with the class. Part of the dissatisfaction was that I really wanted to learn the movements, but the class kept moving on too quickly for me. That could be alleviated by at home practice. Also, watching myself in the mirror, not so fun. I’m rounder than I should be and not very flexible. My mind kept supplying unflattering comparisons to the hippo ballet at the end of Disney’s Fantasia. Part of the point of taking a class is to motivate me to shape up and slim down, so I guess I should count that as a success for the class. The class never did get my heart pumping, so I didn’t get that post-exercise buzz. I think that is a result of the teacher having to switch between teaching basic steps and trying to get us moving. I’m not as stiff and sore as I expected to be today. Last night I was ready to try something else instead, like yoga maybe. I’m still going to do some free trials at other types of classes, but I’m not ready to completely give up on ballet yet. Particularly when I can just show up whenever I have time, and pay per class attended.
Upon my return home I learned that leaving Kiki in charge also had mixed results. Some of the relaxation of getting out is negated if I have to do emergency mopping when I return. BUT all the kids were alive and safe and lessons were learned, so no lasting harm done.
Home alone
“lessons were learned” – that doesn’t sound like “no harm”, that sounds like “Kiki (and possibly others) are growing”.
You have to let them make mistakes, even if they get hurt doing it. The trick is to ensure they don’t get hurt TOO badly. (I know you know this, but a lot of other people just pay lip service or worse).
The headmaster as one of the schools we sent our son to said “I will take them on walks where they may break a leg if they fall off the path. I won’t take them on walks where they will get killed.”
Home alone
“lessons were learned” – that doesn’t sound like “no harm”, that sounds like “Kiki (and possibly others) are growing”.
You have to let them make mistakes, even if they get hurt doing it. The trick is to ensure they don’t get hurt TOO badly. (I know you know this, but a lot of other people just pay lip service or worse).
The headmaster as one of the schools we sent our son to said “I will take them on walks where they may break a leg if they fall off the path. I won’t take them on walks where they will get killed.”
I highly recommend yoga. Good luck with your experimenting with new classes. 🙂
I highly recommend yoga. Good luck with your experimenting with new classes. 🙂
Yoga is, as you surely know, great for flexibility. If you want to get your heart pumping, try salsa. 😉
Yoga is, as you surely know, great for flexibility. If you want to get your heart pumping, try salsa. 😉
“Also, watching myself in the mirror, not so fun. I’m rounder than I should be and not very flexible. My mind kept supplying unflattering comparisons to the hippo ballet at the end of Disney’s Fantasia.”
SANDRA! You are skinny! (what’s wrong with round?) You could NEVER EVER be compared to a Hippo in Fantasia!!! ( I could, YOU cannot.)
Self-esteem! do what you need to do to be more flexible, more healthy etc. but, don’t put yourself down! Okay?
Said with love…
“Also, watching myself in the mirror, not so fun. I’m rounder than I should be and not very flexible. My mind kept supplying unflattering comparisons to the hippo ballet at the end of Disney’s Fantasia.”
SANDRA! You are skinny! (what’s wrong with round?) You could NEVER EVER be compared to a Hippo in Fantasia!!! ( I could, YOU cannot.)
Self-esteem! do what you need to do to be more flexible, more healthy etc. but, don’t put yourself down! Okay?
Said with love…