Pushing My Buttons

Some days these kids know how to push every button I have... until Mount Vesuvius blows! And boy can I get mad!

I am blessed to have a wonderful boss who lets me bring Hunter to work every day. I teach gymnastics two mornings a week during the week, and I pick up some Saturdays when she needs me. My first morning class is a "mom and me" type of class. It's called Wiggle Worms. I set up an obstacle course, we stretch together as a group, then moms and kids take off and practice their gymnastics skills in the obstacle course. Or, the kids just run around crazy making their parents wonder just *when* they are going to learn actual gymnastics skills. Hunter gets to participate in this Wiggle Worm class. He runs around with the other kids and sometimes sticks a few skills in there to make Mama happy.

My next class is an instructor led, Level 1 gymnastics class for ages 3 & 4 called Inch Worms (see the pattern? Kids 5 and under are called "Gym Bugs"). That class is difficult in itself. Getting so many 3 & 4 year-olds to sit and listen for 45 minutes, and learn a few things in the process, is hard. It tries my patience many days. Add Hunter, who is not supposed to be in this class, jumping in and out wherever he pleases. We have 4 skills to get through in 45 minutes. Beam, bars, floor (tumbling), and beginning vault skills. As well as stretching and warming up. The days that Hunter doesn't sit in the waiting area and play with his toys are difficult days. Today was one of them!

I feel bad when he's running all over the gym, causing havoc, while all the parents are sitting there watching me chase him around instead of teach their child. I should be putting 100% of my focus on the paying customers, the children who are there to learn. Not chasing Hunter around, getting him out of the chalk, stopping him from climbing up on the "big boy" high bar, etc. I also find myself losing patience with the class easier when Hunter is having one of these days. Although I can hide it better with the class, and keep smiling. With Hunter, I can't smile. I want him to just SIT and BEHAVE!

I will miss my job so much when we leave, and I fear I may never get to teach gymnastics again because I'm not actually a gymnast. But if we were staying here, I'd *have* to figure out something to do with Hunter!