Today I took Anna to her gymnastics class. Normally, Jennifer takes her on a different day, but since she’s going to miss the next class, she was able to go today as a make-up. At first, she was reluctant to join the group, refusing to be part of the toddler train to the first station, but the instructor gently led her along. For the first several minutes, the class literally revolved around her, as though she was anchored in place, and the other children held hands, stretched, and mimicked the instructor while she stood, unmoving.

Soon, she began to imitate the instructor as well, and the warm up station came to a close. Each child picked up his or her carpet square, and followed the instructor. Anna picked up her carpet square and began scanning the parent’s seats, looking for me. I flashed her the I love you sign, and she perked right up and skipped off to the next station.

For the next half hour, the toddlers did somersaults, climbed, jumped, hung from bars, and pranced across balance beams. The balance beam part was my absolute favorite–a three-year-old striding regally across a balance beam on pointed toe is simply the height of toddler charm.