Be a Kid!

Years ago, there was a “Friends” episode where Phoebe was on a running kick. She loved her new individual form of exercise. After some time, she finally convinced Rachel to go running with her. Rachel was horrified the first time she witnessed Phoebe’s running form, or lack thereof. She “ran” by stomping her feet, arms wind milling and legs flailing. She appeared to have absolutely no muscle control.

Well, my almost three-year old daughter runs in a very similar manner and I absolutely adore it. Each time she takes off running through the house I find myself laughing out loud. I envy how footloose and fancy free she is. At three years old, she has no cares, no worries and certainly no muscle aches. She runs with carelessness and freedom. In fact, she runs most everywhere. It is rare to see her slowly or sluggishly traipsing from one room to another. Most often, if her feet are in high gear, her laughter is revving up simultaneously. And Lord knows; if that child is laughing, I am too. It’s simply contagious.

Wouldn’t it be nice to be so carefree again?

Let me tell you, it IS fun. Last week, my husband and I took our daughters to open gym time at a local gymnastics place. At first, the two of us behaved ourselves and visited with the greeter, while our girls began to explore the tot area. Then in the distance, there it stood, the life size trampoline that would draw my husband back into childhood. He excused himself from the conversation and disappeared. I remained with the talkative lady, politely listening to what the gym had to offer and how great her son was on the pommel horse. Then, I glanced off to the side to see my husband tossing himself into the air. He was bounding up and down on the trampoline and laughing out loud to himself.

My youngest was sprinting from one corner of the spring loaded floor to the other. She wasn’t too hip on exploring much more at the time. My oldest daughter was bouncing down the tumble track, which is like a long narrow trampoline that has a “pit” at the end. The pit is full of foam blocks that make for a cushy landing to any tumble.

I looked around and saw a few other mother’s and children behaving nicely and keeping to themselves. I figured we shouldn’t be too obnoxious and loud, so as not to disturb the others. But then I remembered, it was “open gym.”

I glanced back at my airborne husband and two ecstatic daughters; all having the times of their lives, and I could no longer resist. Before I knew it, my feet were barreling forward down the tumble track and with a giant leap, I found myself catapulted into a pool of foam…soft landing and no water up my nose. I loved it!

My almost five year old was laughing and cheering for me. My toddler interrupted her hot laps and came running over to see what all of the commotion was about. My husband was cheering me on from up high, still leaping endlessly.

I eventually swam through the foam and dragged myself out of the pit…not an easy task. Quickly, I followed my older daughter over to get in line for the large trampoline. We waited patiently for daddy to get off, but I had to state the obvious; “you must share with other children.” After my daughter tried a few tricks, she exited and I leapt on. I began to bounce and with each hop, I got more and more air. Eventually, I figured out why laughing was mandatory. I was taken back to my childhood when I was enrolled in gymnastic lessons. My gymnastics career wasn’t long lived since I grew to be a six-footer, but the fond memories of trampoline tricks live on.

Since it’s been quite some time since I was a tot in a leotard myself, I was a bit cautious and knew I shouldn’t try too many tricks. I wanted so badly to try some moves on the uneven bars too, but knew I wasn’t limber enough and they probably weren’t set up to hold my weight. Last thing I needed to do was spin a somersault on the upper bar, only to find myself waking up to smelling salts and paramedics.

My point is, reverting to childhood for brief moments can be refreshing and rejuvenating. I felt much like a kid again and that wasn’t all bad!

Be a kid!

“Growing old is eventual...growing up is optional” (My husband just arrived home to share this quote that he read on a coffee mug today. He thought it was hilarious, I reminded him that it IS his mantra.)