A Great Conversation With Ms. Cynde

Well, Briana had her last swim lesson with her private swim lesson coach/gymnastics teacher yesterday. It has been great having Bri's gymnastics teacher also giving her swim lessons because Bri is already in love with comfortable with her, and Ms. Cynde already knows what Bri is and is not capable of. Unfortunately, we had to cancel two of Bri's swim lessons due to sickness, but she did make the most out of the lessons she was able to attend. She learned to float on her own and also learned more breath control under the water.

We met Ms. Cynde at the pool yesterday morning and Bri had her lesson. The people scheduled for the lesson after Briana were running a bit late, so I was able to sit and chat with Ms. Cynde for a while. (A quick side note - Ms. Cynde lived in China for a few years and she fell in love with the country. So much so, she said she would love to move back there one day.) So after the lesson, I got a chance to talk to Ms. Cynde about how Bri is really doing in gymnastics.

Now remember, I recently wrote about my thoughts regarding Briana and gymnastics ("click here" if you missed it). I actually spoke with Briana again regarding gymnastics right before her swim lesson and again she said she wasn't digging it. I asked her to tell me specifically what she didn't like about it. She said, "I can't do a bridge very well. I can't do a handstand either. And I can't do a cartwheel." She seemed a bit discouraged talking about it, and I don't want my kid to feel discouraged and unhappy doing something that should be fun. 

Cynde said Bri is doing great in gymnastics. She has come a very long way since her first day of invitation only class a year ago. But, she did add that she isn't sure that Briana will ever get the flexibility to be able to be on team - even though she has the strength. Bri is slender with very long legs and is quite tall for her age. I (and Cynde agreed) that Bri might not have a "gymnastics" type of body. (She has more of a "walking on a runway in Milan" type body. ;D) I added that I don't think that Briana has the desire to do gymnastics anymore. I told Cynde that though Bri loves her, she isn't loving everything else about gymnastics. Then Cynde made a suggestion. She suggested that Bri drop out of the invitation only class and take a regular class again. A class that focuses more on "having fun" instead of one that focuses on the repetition and flexibility training that goes into being possibly on team one day. Right now, I am going to look into horseback riding lessons for the fall, but if for some reason that plan doesn't work out, I might take Cynde up on that. Place Bri in a different class where can still see Cynde but have more fun. Because you know my girl loves to have fun.

The one thing Cynde did add about Briana was that she thinks she could make an excellent swimmer. Her lessons went very well. Bri has the strength and the body type for it. Hmmmm, swim team one day possibly? I will definitely keep it in the back of my mind.

I am so glad now that I decided to keep Bri in gymnastics this summer. If I hadn't, I might not have signed Bri up for Cynde's swim lessons. And I wouldn't have had the opportunity to talk to Cynde and get her perspective on Briana's performance in gymnastics. I would have always wondered, "Did I make the right decision pulling her out of invitation only class?" I am feeling much more confident about it now.

I am a big believer of "things happening for a reason." Especially now that I have Briana in my life.