Kay recently had the opportunity to try a special needs gymnastics class, and I was really excited to see how she would do. I have been wanting to find something else for Kay to participate in, as if we are not already busy enough, but I also wanted to find something that she would genuinely enjoy.
And, of course, I was secretly hoping to find something that Kay could eventually participate in a little more independently, with the help and direction of the coach or instructor. Because Mom would like a break too, lol.
Kay seemed to really enjoy gymnastics for the most part. Her favorite part was very clearly the trampolines. All she wanted to do was jump, jump, jump, and honestly, I cannot blame her because it looked like a lot of fun.
The bigger challenge was getting her to do everything else.
Kay is still learning how to follow directions in a group setting, stand in line, wait her turn, and move from one activity to the next. Waiting is a particularly big one for her, and it is something we are still actively working on. When she sees something she wants to do, she wants to do it right then, and standing around waiting for her turn is definitely not at the top of her list of favorite activities.
So, gymnastics was a workout for Mom too, hah. I spent a lot of the class redirecting Kay, reminding her where she needed to be, encouraging her to follow along with the group, and trying to keep her from making a beeline for the trampolines every chance she got.
Since this was a special needs gymnastics session with only one coach, it actually seemed like many of the parents were in the same boat. There were plenty of kids who needed extra reminders, redirection, or help waiting their turn, which made me feel a little better about the fact that I was basically getting my own workout in while Kay was supposed to be having hers.
But even with all of that, I was really proud of her.
Kay has come such a long way physically. She was in physical therapy from the time she was six months old until just recently, so watching her jump, climb, balance, and participate in a gymnastics class is something I never want to take for granted. There were moments when she struggled to follow along, but there were also moments when she was right there with the group, having fun and trying new things.
That is exactly what I was hoping to see.
The reality is that Kay does not have a ton of free time during the week. She really only has two days that are somewhat open. Mondays are just school, while Fridays are school followed by in home occupational therapy, although we still have a good chunk of the afternoon afterward. Between school, therapies, and everything else we already have going on, our schedule is pretty full.
She is also already heavily involved in T Ball twice a year, and that is something where she still relies pretty heavily on our support. I would love to find another activity where she can learn alongside her peers and eventually become more independent with the help and direction of an instructor.
Maybe gymnastics will be that activity for her. Maybe we will find something else that fits better with her personality and our already very limited schedule. And maybe this is simply a busy season of life, and gymnastics is something we can come back to when Kay is a little older and has matured a bit more.
Only time will tell.
For now, I am just happy that we got to give it a try. Kay had fun, Mom got her steps in, and we learned a little more about what might work for her. I think that counts as a pretty successful trial.