Gym Time Fun Time

This past Wednesday I started a structured kiddie gym time at the rec center for moms and toddlers. It was a lot of fun! I kind of felt like I was in my element. I am going to try to meet every Wednesday for the duration of the winter. 

I liked it for lots of reasons. I got to use my teaching and planning skills. It was great to be with the other moms and the other kids (for the most part*). It got us out of the house and moving around on these cold winter days. And it gave me a chance to serve the other moms and kids and provide a point of connection for all of us, which, we found out, we desperately needed. 

I'm not really sure what first got me thinking to do this. I like the play group at the library and could never plan the activities like they do, but I thought I COULD plan an active play time - with songs and games and stories. And then one day Cole and I were at the rec center gym all by ourselves and the ideas started rolling. I kept track of everything that came to mind on a list on my phone and realized I had a lot I could pick from.  

I contacted a few girls to see if they'd be interested and they were! And then I tried to think of every single mom I knew that stayed home. I texted them all and they were all excited about the prospect. We had 5 moms and their kids this first time - but maybe 9 moms altogether potentially.  

I told myself to keep it simple and do familiar things - not spend a lot of time googling and looking for obscure new activities to do or trying too hard to stick with a theme, and that seemed to be well received. 

Here was my plan:

I planned for 30 minutes and told everyone they could stick around after, if they wanted - and they did! We aren't all friends and there was a lot of kind of "keeping to themselves and their kids", but I envision that changing as we have more time with each other. 

Lots of playing and interacting going on with moms and kids, with a little "mom talk" thrown in there on the side. 

I'm so glad I did it. I won't do it forever but it'll be fun for a bit!

*The hardest part was dealing with Cole's aggressive behavior towards some of the kids. I feel like we have been working on this forever! I had some major breakthroughs as I spent some concentrated time in prayer after some difficult times this past week. God is working on me and my insecurities and weaknesses as I try to gently correct and guide Cole (and failing sometimes too). So tough!