8.01.2012

Everyone Has A Little Olympic, Gold Medal Gymnast in Them -- So Get on That Cute Little Red Outfit, Parents!





Last time I did a front handspring, I was in high school on a deserted soccer field goofing off with a friend who also shouldn’t have been doing front handsprings anymore. But at 14 years old, we were still able to whip our bodies into noodle-like U turns and, wait for it, wait for it…. stick-it!!! (And the crowd goes wild!!!)

So watching these little US Gymnast Gold Medal Olympians flip and noodle and fling themselves into Mary Lou, 10.0 heights of whirls and acrobatic, nail-biting horror, I like to think that we all still have a little Olympian Gymnast in us.

It just comes in a different package and manifests in a completely different way.

For example, the slow-mo CATCHING THE NEWLY WALKING BABY 2 PERSON FLOOR TUMBLING EXERCIZE that you and your spouse do somewhere between your child’s 11th and 16th month… each of you twisting and turning and hurling your own body and torso and limbs into unfathomable contortions while trying to catch your brand new walker before he or she does a major header into the metal side table/fireplace poker/random jaggedy thing that has been forgotten to be baby-proofed.

Or, how about the crowd favorite, the VAULTING OVER THE UNBELIEVABLE AMOUNT OF BABY/KID CRAP ON THE FLOOR WITHOUT LANDING ON YOUR FACE to get over to the other side of the room to answer (and find) the cell phone somewhere in one of the pockets in your purse in time, because, you know it’s the pediatrician calling with the results of the strep-throat/ear infection/IQ test and it’s your only chance to talk to her live….ever.

And then of course, there’s my favorite of them all, THE BALANCE BEAM: FINDING THE PERFECT BALANCE IN PARENTHOOD BETWEEN WORK AND FAMILY. Her toes are perfectly pointed.…she’s looking straight ahead. Oooh, possible slight deduction for wanting more… no, no, she self-corrects and…. disssssmount she’s heading home….. oh, yes!!!! she sticks it!!!!! 10.0s all around, am I right, people? Uh, not…. And good news for you first time parents, you get your own free blindfold in this event to score some extra points for difficulty. SO much fun!

So, you see, we ALL have a little Gold Medal Olympian Gymnast in us. So get out that cute little red outfit and start stretching…. the top step of the award podium awaits.

Namaste & Three Cheers! -a

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