One More Time Now

Lately I've been going to an aerobics class through the MBA spouses' program on Fridays. They meet every day, but I only go at the end of the week. The first time I went I ended up severely traumatized. But I'm still going. It's part of my "let's try to be social" plan. I know, I know, my friends are in awe that I'm talking to strangers. Anyway, back to being traumatized.....

I have never done aerobics before and I just knew I was going to feel like an idiot. Not that all you aerobic, jazzercize loving people look stupid. I just knew I would look stupid. My one experience with aerobics was watching my mom's aerobics show back when I was in kindergarten - or some other impressionable age. This was the one with the great 80's music, and the wardrobe composed only of spandex and braided headbands. Yes, you know it. And - once again - if I were gifted (I suppose I should branch out on my links) I would import the music from the show. I know you'd recognize it. In this particular version of aerobics there were three different levels you could try out. I felt gifted that I could do the top version as my five year old self. Hmmmm, wouldn't that be laughable to see now......

Anyway, back to aerobics in 2008. Picture this: all us mothers out there on the gym floor lifting our legs and cha-cha-ing, hopping in place and punching the air (am I supposed to try to punch with actual form?) while around our legs sit/scoot/crawl/walk/run at least two to three times as many children as there are adults in the room.

I don't think any more explanation of the traumatization is necessary. Of course, this is coming from the girl who dressed up in pink tights and a black leotard for eighteen years so she could walk on her toes and do other such funny looking things. Can I really mock aerobics with a history like mine? So, I decided not to laugh. "This is only funny looking because I'm insane," I told myself. Nothing about skipping while you do arm circles above your head is odd. I repeat, nothing about this is odd. None of us are even wearing spandex.

Fast forward a few weeks to today. Standing beside myself was another newcomer to the nursery/aerobics scene I have just described. And I kid you not, every time we did something which the cynical voice in my head had thought strange looking, she laughed. Out loud. Like it was the funniest looking thing ever. And do you know why? Because it was! Even Elise commented on it today.

J: Ellie, are you going to dance with me?
E: Mom, this is funny dancing.

No, no, I mock only in fun. Really, it's been great. I've never been able to get into the running gig and this is finally something interesting that gets my blood going in the morning. And it's great that Meg and Ellie can just run around and play with the other kids. (Or read in the dark stairwell as Ellie did today) I will not think about what Meg might have put her mouth on, and I will not think about how if I were watching this all happen, I would be laughing. That is all for you.

Too bad I can't stay for the yoga they offer later... but all Meg does is look for shoes she can eat.