The Non-Finisher

All parents go through this. They see kids on TV, in school, hear about them from friends – there is this pressure to put your child in some extra-curricular activity because that is the norm.  It’s the truth.  Everything I have my daughter start, we never finish.  

GYMNASTICS
Yep, we tried this. I don’t think this place was a “real” learning environment though.

It stank. Like feet.

Rina was afraid of the balance beam. It was less than a foot off the floor. Rather than sit there and watch her cry about walking on the balance beam, we just never went back.

 

DANCING

Then there are those dance lessons I signed my daughter up for that were absolutely EXPENSIVE as heck!
I happened to take my daughter to visit one of her friends, sat and listened about how said friend was in these dance classes.

My mommy, “my kid is better than your kid, jealousy radar” was instantly piqued. I thought to myself, my daughter can dance WAAAAAAY better than that kid & promptly over extended myself, my car and my bank account to said dance school.

~My daughter is a good dancer. Great rhythm. Follows directions.~

Then I got sick. This gave me the PERFECT excuse to stop taking her to her classes that I still had to pay for because we had a contract. Long story short, I let those classes slowly migrate to my credit report. I stopped paying for them.

So not responsible.

I did eventually pay it off. In the end, my daughter didn’t even care that she wasn’t going to dance class anymore because it was MY crazy, vicarious dream, not hers. Besides, we have a Kinect and one of those dance video games. Economy style FREE dance lessons just for the price of the game. Oh yeah.

PIANO
We did this too. But in this case, my daughter went consistently. Even had a recital! But alas, twas’ not to be. Right after the recital the company closed. Like for good. Kids still had appointments and had paid for appointments. She never finished her classes but we bought her a keyboard that now sits in storage collecting dust. Awesome.

No worries, I had a plan. I would spend 35 to 45 minutes a day with her on the keyboard. She had the book still, why not? *Ahem* that quickly got old. Like after day 5. I am not a piano teacher. I will probably get the keyboard out of storage though so my daughter and my 11 year old cousin-in-law can practice together. One on the clarinet or viola, Rina on the keyboard.

 

TAE KWON DO
This came about because I couldn’t pick my daughter up at her regular scheduled dismissal time. They offered this at the school. She went consistently. She passed her belt test. She has a striped yellow belt. YAY!! An accomplishment. I was so proud!

Then the school year ended & I just didn’t get around to putting her back in the classes. *sigh*

SWIMMING
Now this is one activity I believe is a keeper. My daughter has always loved to swim. I needed to find some extra-curricular activities for her to do because let’s face it, as an only child, the only one she nags is MOI about how bored she is.

So I found the Biloxi ELITE Swim team. In Biloxi. I live in Gulfport, MS. It is about 15 miles away. A 20 minute drive. She went to her first try out and did excellent. She was able to make it across the pool and back. She wants to practice 5 days a week even though for her level only 2 days a week required.

Now this is something I am willing to commit to.  I may even move close to the Biloxi Natatorium. I just have to keep my motivation to keep driving her.
Day in and day out to practice.
Volunteer at the meet.
Pay the monthly fees.
Purchase swim suits, real ones, not from Wal-Mart.
Goggles, swim caps. The whole nine.

She starts going back to practice today after a 1 month hiatus. I got sick, she got sick. Lordy.

On a side note, one of her friends invited Rina to a lock in at a dance school she attends where the said friend takes dance AND voice lessons.

There went my mommydar again.

This time I ignored it and just said, it doesn’t matter. I am sure her friend is an excellent singer. My baby on the other hand has the hands, feet and torso to swim. That’s what she will be great at. That is what I will focus my energies on.

I am not a soccer mom. A cheerleader mom, a stage mom (well not right now because we did that too, another story, another time), a dance mom.

I am a just a mom. Trying to be consistent. That is all I can do.

Besides, my daughter will wipe the floor with your kid any day. *Smile*