The boys' preschool offers a variety of extra-curricular activities for four and five year olds: sports, computer, music, science, gymnastics, Solipsism and The Modern British Novel ... Naturally, these programs are not free, so we weren't exactly tripping over ourselves to sign up. Better to take our cue from Gus, we thought, and wait until he begsexpresses an interest in pursuing one of these exciting learning opportunities.
Then in August, the 2008 Women's Gymnastics Team double vaulted into our living room, and Gus has been leaping around the house, hurling himself off the coffee table, and dangling from the side of Patrick's crib ever since.
So, gymnastics it is.
When Larry went to put Gus's name on the list, I won't say the school's director hemmed and hawed, but she definitely hemmed a little. (Knowing how some parents at the school feel about female teachers having "boy hair", I suppose she wanted to offer full disclosure.)
"You know that class is all girls," she told Larry.
Larry shrugged. "He said he wants to do it."
"He'd probably really love computer."
"Nope," Larry said. "He specifically said he wants to do gymnastics."
So we signed him up, and he's still the only boy in the class, and he LOVES it. At first I didn't think it even registered with him that the class is all girls, but then we had this conversation a few days ago, and it occurred to me that perhaps being in a class with all girls was sort of the whole point.
He said, "Mom, I've been thinking a lot about gymnastics."
"Oh yeah?"
"Yeah, and I've been thinking a lot about that Nastia Liukin."
"Really?"
"Yes, I really like her. She's very pretty."
"She is very pretty. She's also an amazing gymnast."
"Yes she is, and I really like that shirt that she wears? You know that tight sort of shirt?"
"Her leotard?"
"Yes, her leotard. (Sigh.)"
Then in August, the 2008 Women's Gymnastics Team double vaulted into our living room, and Gus has been leaping around the house, hurling himself off the coffee table, and dangling from the side of Patrick's crib ever since.
So, gymnastics it is.
When Larry went to put Gus's name on the list, I won't say the school's director hemmed and hawed, but she definitely hemmed a little. (Knowing how some parents at the school feel about female teachers having "boy hair", I suppose she wanted to offer full disclosure.)
"You know that class is all girls," she told Larry.
Larry shrugged. "He said he wants to do it."
"He'd probably really love computer."
"Nope," Larry said. "He specifically said he wants to do gymnastics."
So we signed him up, and he's still the only boy in the class, and he LOVES it. At first I didn't think it even registered with him that the class is all girls, but then we had this conversation a few days ago, and it occurred to me that perhaps being in a class with all girls was sort of the whole point.
He said, "Mom, I've been thinking a lot about gymnastics."
"Oh yeah?"
"Yeah, and I've been thinking a lot about that Nastia Liukin."
"Really?"
"Yes, I really like her. She's very pretty."
"She is very pretty. She's also an amazing gymnast."
"Yes she is, and I really like that shirt that she wears? You know that tight sort of shirt?"
"Her leotard?"
"Yes, her leotard. (Sigh.)"
RSS Feed
