houston, we have a problem

Just back from Tim's first Dancin' Dumplin' class. It was an absolute failure. There were a lot of things working against him today. The classroom windows have all been covered with paper so that the kids are isolated from their parents, who aren't allowed in the room with them. The teacher does no transition time before class: she unlocks her door, lets the kids inside and shuts the parents out in a matter of seconds. She didn't even introduce herself. The other students were all a year older and had taken at least one class with this teacher in this classroom before. It was just a little too much for him. When she brought him out, less than three minutes after shutting the door in my face, she told me about some holes that were cut in the paper on the windows around the corner where Tim could watch until he was ready to join them. He watched, but every time I asked if he wanted to join them, he started to cry. I'm disappointed but ready to jump back on that horse and try again, only it'll be a different horse this time.

We already planned to put him in an additional class called Amazing Athletes. It teaches the basics of 9 different sports: basketball, baseball, soccer, volleyball, football, lacrosse, hockey, tennis, and golf. Just like Dancin' Dumplins, the parents are not included in the class, so that's a hurdle and a concern. However, the classes are broken into two age groups: 2.5-3 and 3.5-5. That will work to Tim's benefit, making him amongst the oldest instead of the youngest. Classes don't start until May, so he'll be a little older and maybe a little braver. And there will probably be some boys in the class, not just girls in tutus. Fingers crossed that we don't have a replay of today. We have some time before we need to register, so that's good too. And, I can raise enough money with my blog to pay for it. As Great Aunt Cath says: "Ca Ching."

The catalog of classes put out by the city's Parks and Recreation Department is impressive. Proceeds from the Colorado Lottery help fund our Parks and Rec Department. The offerings vary from dance lessons to sign language classes for ages 6 months old to senior citizens. The Farm that Tim did with Gran and Grand-da last summer is part of the Department. I hope Tim will be able to take advantage of this resource.

When our morning of dancing and tumbling dissolved into tears, we came home and had great fun playing trains with Legos. Sometimes the simple things are the best.