Indulge Thy Interest!
Even before I had Khloe, I already promised myself that if I'll have a kid, I will do everything I can to support whatever interest them. This comes with, me, having to psychologically prepare myself to being a mother. This is not because I want to give them what I never had before, but simply because I believe that this is how a parent should be -- supportive!
I started Khloe with once a week, one hour class, 'Wiggles & Giggles' with the community center, when she was 2 years old. This is how I tried to start her with her social interaction with other kids her age, given that she was never in day care. I noticed then that she likes playing by herself, and her listening span with story time really short. She'd rather explore and play. Then, I added one more trip on every Friday, to visit the City library for a Story Time with the other kids. It kind of helped me start a routine with her, and both activities taught her a sense of pattern, that she looks forward to our date every Friday and Saturday.
When she turned three, I started her with Creative Movements in ballet. It is a half an hour class every Saturday, and it was an activity to remember. They were 5 in the class, and Khloe met her match with one of the girls -- and just like that, most of those classes were a riot for both of them. I remember pulling her out twice from the class because the hyperness were just insane. I remember, missing 3 classes because I wanted her to know that I mean business, and that she has to behave when taking her ballet classes. But, indeed, what do three years old know? If other parents go through the Terrible Twos stage, this ballet class introduced to me a whole new meaning to the world of Three Year Olds! So after almost 8 months of this, recital came, and she redeemed herself. She behaved all through out their 3-minute recital number.Up to now, at the age of 6, she is still doing her ballet class, which she added with an acro class, back-to-back for her 2nd year now. And to add one more on her dance resume, she is taking hiphop class in a different studio, where I do my zumba class. It's our way of testing the water for what else could she do.
Same year after her first dance recital, I registered her to her first sport - soccer. It was a two-month, house league game with an all-girls soccer club. She had a blast -- and I found myself with a promising soccer player for a daughter. Until now, soccer fills up our entire Summer thursdays. Next year, she'll move up to the next level of the house league and it looks like she still have that soccerlove-fire burning within her. It's gonna be fun watching her push herself. And not because I am just a proud Mom, but this girl had so much soccer spirit in her.
The next year, after turning 4, I decided to introduce to her the world of gymnastic. I realized that Khloe had so much energy in her that she might like this sport, too. Add to that, her Dad's cousin is one heck of a gymnast, and I wish for Khloe to be inspired by her. Of course, Khloe loves it so much, she just wanna do it everyday. But as much as I love her loving the sport, this one is not cheap. So I talked to Khloe about her option, and told her that if she wanna try acrobatics first, she can have gymanstics every spring and summer. And just like a fairytale, we compromised and we alternate the two every year. One thing I noticed with Khloe, as soon as she started school, her hyperness gone, and the reasonable Khloe emerged. This was also ghe perfect moment for me to start her with swimming lessons. And just like a glove, she fits in like a fish. She still enjoys her swimming classes up to now, and she always aims to learn more skills as she progresses. This is despite her gruesome schedule every Saturday. Khloe never whine about waking up early on a weekend, nor cry for being tired with her back to back weekend activities.
After turning 5, I gave up fighting her wish to try skating. She begged me for years, and after watching the Sochi Winter Olympics, she begged for more. I saw the passion from her desperation to try the sport, that I psyched myself to be ready for this one (because I know she will love this crazily), and finally, indulged her. No experience, no knowledge, but as soon as she stepped on the ice, she didn't fell off for the first half an hour. Not until someone fell off and brought her down. She learned so fast and so quick of this sport, it's scary. She begged me to continue even on spring and summer, and of fall, but I made her set her priorities. Picking one activity, at the expense of another one, is something she has to think about, and to decide.
Others asked me as to why I let her do all of these when she is too young, still. And I tell them -- becauase she wants to. As simple as that. She loves doing all of it, she excels in them, and she have so much fun. Above all, she meet different kind of kids.
I am never a stage mom. I have no intention of sending Khloe to the competetive level of any of these activities. My sole reason, is for her to learn the skills and have fun. Aiming for more than that is not for me to ask of her. With the rate she is going, she could have ask us for more classes. She is really invested with most of these. She asked me from time to time, but I always tell her that doing more means sacrificing more. Also, it means paying more. And Khloe is that girl who always knows where we are at financial-wise. And it is always our rule that Academics first before anything else. Not that she lacks in academics.
We, actually, indulge her with these activities because she handles all of these so perfectly, that she amazes us all the time. These activities are just a bonus for her. She is a God's gift to us, most especially, because she grew up to be an awesome student in school, and a good girl to everyone. She is that girl whom a lot of people had tapped me in the shoulder and told me I am such a lucky Mom. And that just meeting or seeing her a short time. She is that Khloe her family loves dearly, because she is God-fearing, kind, obedient and very sweet. She is that Khloe we love, because she is simply herself.
And she deserves all of these activities, because she is all that!
