Labor day fun

Happiness is simple.

Weekends "off" are nice.

After waking up and doing 3 hours of music practice (piano and harp) Haley was ready to play.

Computer games, outdoor fun, quality time with family.  

Pure, unbridled joy.

#HappinessSimplified

Ian makes the swim team

The process of making team began right after our return from Europe.  Prior to our trip, it was our intention to allow Ian to jump back into swimming at the local natatorium upon our return.  However, Ian complained that the environment was too "cold" and he didn't like getting out of the pool and having to endure the discomfort of being wet and cold.  So I purchased a big, terry-cloth robe for him, and some towels.  He was ready to give it another go.

Then I reflected back on his experience at the natatorium and thought about how "industrial" it was.  The kids didn't seem to enjoy their time there as they swam laps for an hour with little interaction with each other.  I didn't appreciate any "real" coaching.  And the parents sit so far away, that it was barely even interesting to watch him do his thing.  So I rethought the natatorium...

....and signed him up at an AquaTots-type of place.  There he had more individualized attention.  They learned the 4 competitive strokes in an environment with a 80 degree pool in a "warm" room, surrounded by bright colors of starfish, and octopuses (or is it octopi?).  He was nurtured and rewarded with "water slide time" after a job well-done.  This environment was very motivating for him.  And he really jumped all in (pun intended).  

After his course was over, he did more private lessons leading up to swim team try-outs.  Our goal was for "stroke team," and "trained" for that.  He tried out for a few teams, and one wanted him right away (the other 3 teams are either following a protocol of notification (which is another 10 days away) or they are waiting to have try-outs until their own swim feeder swim classes have tried out...or...they wanted more money for a "pre-team" which would push back competition (and "real team" status) until January.  

Prior to being "chosen" Ian fell in love with a particular program ("the water seems soft and the place is warm...and there is sunlight through the windows.") That same team was the one that was the most "laid back" and the children seemed to be having fun.  The only draw-back was, it is a tiny bit further from home.  Nonetheless, we accepted the spot, and Ian attended his first swim team practice yesterday!!

  He's super excited!!  

AND, waterpolo Splashball resumes next week!!  And so begins "Ian's turn" to do "his thing."  

Choir begins

Haley and Ian are in the choir.

Haley is SUPER excited for the opportunity.

Ian is apprehensive.

Youth orchestra open house

The opportunity to learn about new instruments.  

Gymnastics Meet

Today was Hana's first REAL gymnastics meet (with ribbons, scores, and medals).  She did very well.  She was happy to get all dressed up, hair done and jewelry so she could be "Queen for a Day" (the theme of the meet which was a district qualifying event).  Hana competed well at Level 3.  Her scores were expectedly lower than most due to age and experience.  

After the meet we had a celebratory dinner at which time she shared that she was looking forward to trying "new things."  Maybe cheer or dance?  Maybe basketball or soccer?  At Ian's swim practice a few days ago, she lamented about not being able to take "swim lessons" herself with Ian (but she has gymnastics practice 4 days/week for 3 hours/day and the gym is almost a 2 hour round trip...so she does not have time for anything BUT gymnastics!

But that's about to change for her in the upcoming months.  

One thing that was VERY apparent at this meet was Hana's desire to be social (inappropriately so considering the "high-strung" setting that is competitive gymnastics).  She was bouncing around and clowning around.  What used to be attributed to "young age" is now an apparent part of her innate personality.  With Taylored Curriculum, we endeavor to enrich and enhance the individual child's personality with activities and programming that meshes with their stregths and desires.  We try to avoid attempting to "change" the child or make them "conform" as a round peg into a square hole.  

So I started wondering if perhaps theater, cheer, dance or some other social, outgoing, active sort of performing activity would be a more 'natural' fit (while encompassing her natural athleticism).  Time will tell.

Gymnastics meet opening ceremonies.

Competition time

Closing Ceremonies and awards

Yay Hana.  Outstanding performance today.  

Haley graduates to pedal harp

Hybrid school has begun

Its the first day of school!!  

EIGHTH GRADE

FIRST GRADE

THIRD GRADE

The curriculum

En Garde. Haley does fencing.

Haley has started fencing, and really enjoys it.  This summer, her 2 new "introductions" were tennis and fencing.  Her personality is suited for individual competitive sports.

The history of Haley and extra-curriculars in long.  And in the process of "finding her best spot" the parents learned quite a bit as well.  One thing we learned is to be strategic when introducing new activities.  Choose a sport or activity based on the child, their age, their stated and demonstrated interest, and how it fits with everything else they (or we) are doing.

Haley started with itty-bitty-sports at age 3.  A few week camp at the local Y where she was introduced to T-ball, basketball, and games.  Haley then started ballet at age 4.  She did that for 2 years, but didn't make great progress.  She didn't seem to enjoy it.  And towards the end, actually seemed to dislike it.  So we finally wised up and ended those lessons.

She did voice lessons, but it was sort of boring, and entailed more "work" learning music.  She wasn't enthusiastic about it then, and it was quite expensive.  So we stopped that.

Haley then participated in golf, basketball, and volleyball.  Golf was boring.  The team sports were "difficult" for her because the success (or failure) of the group, depended on the group.  She (individually) couldn't 'make the team win' and she became frustrated being "just like everyone else."  She naturally
wanted to compete with teammates, causing incohesiveness on the team.  Volleyball was expensive.  And her lack of enthusiasm for basketball (that she finally revealed) made stopping a logical decision.

She has had archery experience.  She's not excited about swimming (because of her curly hair and its required upkeep if she swims.  Remember, there are lots of 'moving parts' when choosing an activity, and hair is as valid as anything else).  She was excited about track, but heel pain caused her to have to sit out the season last spring.  However, before she sat out, she realized that in order to be a good "sprinter" she'd have to do some work.  While she was fast, she was only "average fast" on the track team....

So this summer, we chose tennis.  Tennis is a time and financially intensive sport.  But a summer intro is not.  So she did that.  Did not like it.  And finally, fencing.  And fencing...seems to become her!!

Pretty Smart Girls

Wonderful mentoring organization, Pretty Smart Girls, has a fund-raising fashion show at a haute down-town hookah lounge wearing all white.  We met some wonderful and accomplished young women at this event and we are happy to have continued connection with them via social media and via friends of friends.  

More than that, however, it was an opportunity for me and Haley to go out, and hang out.  To see what a club scene is like, and how to handle herself.  From how/where to park, deciding to attend (or stay if you're there already), how to carry yourself, what a VIP list looks like (and what it means).  Watching young and older women handle themselves (both appropriately, and inappropriately) at such an affair.  And for her to practice social ettiqutte and interaction with people of all ages, socially, in this type of setting.  It was a wonderful experience for her (and for her mother).  Check us out: 

Gymnastics break

If you recall, I mentioned awhile back that we were strongly considering taking Hana out of gymnastics and trying her in other sports.

I FIRST started to re-think this "gymnastics rabbit hole" back in June (when we were in Barcelona).  Hubby and I had a long talk about the pros and cons of having Hana:  1.  Continue gymnastics.  2.  Enrolling in the on-site gym-school (which is ALSO a homeschool/hybrid situation).  Initially we really liked the option of having Hana do BOTH school and gymnastics there.  It would alleviate some stress of transportation, AND it would allow her to practice with the morning team (which is the coveted team at this gym).  We actually signed her up and paid the registration fee!!

After stepping away for a few weeks, I realized that sending Hana to the Hybrid on-campus school would essentially "banish" her to the gym 5 days/week for 8 hours a day way across town.  I didn't like the prospect of that at all.  And the more I dwelled the less I liked the idea.  So, I cancelled the Gym/Hybrid spot (lost the money, however) and let her current Hybrid school know that ALL three kids would be returning.  (I had also paid the registration fee to the old Hybrid school, as it was a FAMILY fee and the other 2 kids were for sure going back).

Immediately after making this decision, I felt better.

Upon returning to Texas from Europe (and after hopping back into the rigourous practice schedule), soft whispers in my mind started asking the question:  "do you think she'll miss out on too much family time and begin to feel disconnected?"  Afterall, she was ALREADY missing huge chunks of very quality family time everyday from 3-8p (dinner and relaxation time).  She was not around for impromptu trips to the cook store, or shakes and snacks.  She missed home movie night, and nightly "play time" (which happens after everything is "done" for the day).  I...missed her.  And I started to really consider the end-goal of gymnastics for Hana.

Gymnastics will only continue to demand more time (eventually trips around the world alone with coaches).  So many missed childhood opportunities to just *play* and have fun!  School work may suffer.  The friendships formed at the gym in this sport are superficial (and a set-up for disappointment) because all the girls are in competition with each other.  And taking this little soft-hearted collaborator, and putting her into a cut-throat competitive environment where she is judged on her appearance and body size...just sounded very unhealthy.

So I asked Hana if she wanted to continue gymnastics, or try something else?  She said she wants to be apart of a TEAM, and she wants to try basketball.  She saw Haley play the sport a couple of years ago, and wants to try.  So we looked up local programs, and low-behold, there is a 1st grad program that begins in Octobor.

So as we straddle the fence (really leaning towards having her quit gymnastics for more family time, and a team sport) a couple of "signs" help reaffirm what we already knew.  1.  The transportation situation changed when my nephew destroyed our 3rd run-around car.  He would help us transport Hana to/from gymnastics once or twice per week.  And 2.  I came across this article: Noted surgeon Dr. James Andrews wants your young athlete to stay healthy by playing less.

There are so many things to do in childhood, and gymnastics for Hana will effectively remove all of them.  Music lessons.  Other sporting opportunities.  Future travel "for fun."  And for Hana (with her history) being disconnected from the family is especially detrimental.  

I posted the question to a mom's group of which I'm apart, and the feedback I received was as follows:

Mom 1:  I was all over gymnastics back in the day. Karolyi would accept girls from all over - if the talent is there they will take them.  My daughter did gymnastics for awhile, but then I made the decision to just do soccer for a couple of reasons. Gymnastics is a very critical sport where you have to be "perfect" not only how you perform but also how you LOOK. If you fall of the beam - there goes the meet. Whereas in soccer or basketball,  the game goes on and you can recover and can still "win" - walk away feeling you did a good job.

Mom 2:  I think her family connection is more important than the possibility of her progressing to a professional level.

There are SEVEN women on the girls Olympic team every FOUR years. There is ONE World Champion each year. There are a handful of college scholarships, but honestly, at $6000/year, one can save that money and pay cash for college if it's about investing *solely* for a scholarship (so that's not logical). Chances of her doing anything beyond college (and getting paid for her talent) are exceedingly low, I think. I do not think it's a sound financial investment. And maybe...not even a sound social or developmental one either.

Mom 3:  In the past, I've run myself ragged and broke behind Ann's activities. She tried EVERYTHING, but it was largely driven by ME. Ice skating was very cut throat. Horseback riding was ok. She learned how to play the bassoon, dance, paint, sing, play soccer, ball, etc. All of that to say that her favorite activities ended up being debate and film. So, I've learned (1) running ragged and broke affects my parenting in a bad way; (2) it's ok to let your child experience something without making it a lifelong commitment. Do what works best for your family as a whole. Anything that promotes cohesion and happiness is a win in my book.

So our plan is - let her compete some this season, then pull her out.  Let her rest.  Then start basketball.

AND this comes right on time (financially) because....I think I found Haley a pedal harp to rent!  :)

Hana's first gymnastics meet

Hana started gymnastics at the local rec center just before her 4th birthday.  She has steadily advanced, moved gyms 4 times, and for the last 6 months has been practicing between 12 and 15 hours each week.  Today, she finally had the opportunity to dress up pretty, and strut out with her team in competition.  A long awaited milestone accomplished.  

Floor performance video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZHZix14KS0