little gym and music class

As the overachieving parents we sometimes tend to be these days, I'm willing to bet you all have taken your wee one to some kind of "organized class"--such as Gymboree, Little Gym, KinderMusik, Spanish class or some other such class.

How do I feel about these classes? I think they are great for moms to meet other moms. Do I think they help develop little six-month-old minds? Not really. (If you want to read more on this, I would recommend fellow Baby Buncher Pamela Paul's Parenting, Inc.)

My son was the absolute worst organized class participant . He wouldn't sit still in music class to save his life or participate in baby gymnastics. I spent more time running after him than I ever spent in class meeting moms. But I persevered.

If you do enjoy taking these classes and your baby is a model citizen, then you are my hero. As soon as baby #2 arrives, you will surely think having some activity will be great because it will get you out of the house to be with other moms, right? My advice, stick to playgroups with your close friends. Don't try classes with a baby and toddler in tow. It's not a pretty sight.

I recently found the email exchange between Cara and me about my first organized activity after Anna was born. She was 8 weeks old and he was about 18 months.

My initial email: 

I took Alex to Little Gym today, the same one they have in the US only in Swedish. I wanted to kill myself after about 10 minutes. First of all, Anna wouldn't hang out in the car seat so I had to Bjorn her. Then Alex didn't want to have anything to do with the singing or the stuff they do before they actually play on the fun equipment. He just wanted to play on the equipment. Meanwhile, she was still fussing. His pant legs of his overalls kept coming undone and he was tripping over it. Then he started to play OK like all the other kids. Then they brought out the balls and I thought he would love that.....no. He flipped and started crying and screaming. I'm like WTF. Then he ran to the door to leave. We couldn't leave because we came with another lady as a sample class. Because I'm just too stupid, we went to the same lady's house afterwards. (Obviously, I'll never learn). He started to destroy everything and the more tired he got the worse. Then decided to start pushing her kid and biting me. OMG...I just wanted to die of embarrassment.

Cara's response:

OMG you poor thing. I have totally been there. This is the scene at Cade's music class basically every week. I signed him up thinking Drew would rest peacefully in his carrier - NOT.  So i 'Bjorn' him every week and dance around with scarves and instruments like a fool with Cade on my hip (b/c for some reason the music flips him out - I think it is sensory overload) and Drew on my chest.  At least it is a good workout but the teacher hates me.

I was briefly contemplating returning to Gymboree, but you have convinced me not to, since this is surely what it will look like for us as well.  I still have 12 sessions left that I paid for, but I think I will hold onto them until Drew is old enough and then take him while Cade is in school

All I can say is, it's not just you - I have been there (many times) wanting to die of embarrassment as well.

Live and learn, I say. Baby Bunching is all about trial and error. And organized classes were a big error on my part. We didn't set foot in another class until Anna was two. Anyone else had an experience like this?

Comments

[Casey]

I've been taking Graham to either play or music class since he was one and it's always been terrible. All of the other kids his age sit still when they're supposed to and participate and my kid is the one running for the hills and grabbing everything he shouldn't have. It was impossible to keep up with him when I was pregnant and now I'll only take him if my husband can stay home with the baby. We actually skipped music class this morning because I wasn't in the mood to chase. Last week, he managed to open the bathroom door, the supply room, tip over a trash can, scale the art table, open a bag of markers and almost escape from the room. All of this was while I was five feet from him shaking my own moroccas and trying to participate in the class. No way I'm trying to do that with two kids.

[Fatina]

I am SO glad that I found this site, and particularly this entry today. I've got a 1 month old, and a 20 month old, and was actually considering signing up for the next session of Kindermusik in my area. Now I realize that I've got to stop smoking crack in my freetime (ooops -- forgot -- I don't have any freetime anymore; guess I've just got to find a way to get some sleep at some point over the next 11 months), and continue to be content with surviving each day. I watch Jon & Kate + 8 to keep me sane, and I think that watching too many reruns with them traveling to distant and exotic locales with 8 kids seeped into my sleep deprived brain. Thanks for the great advice and reality check!

[Lisa]

I refuse to pay for such organized classes when there are so many free activities to attend, plus we just really can't afford it on one income. For example, our local libraries have fantastic reading/music classes for 6 mos and up. I have found that sometimes the classes go well and sometimes not so well, all depending on my daughter's mood. I have seen other moms there with babies and toddlers and will try it once the new baby comes. I'm sure there will be disasters but aren't there always when going out with babies and toddlers? I know that I need to get out of the house just as much as they do, especially during the winter.

[geekymummy]

I'm still making it to music class with my two (2.5 and 8 months), dashing out of the office at 4.00pm, sometimes even having remembered to pack double stroller, snacks etc before I left that morning! It is always touch and go that we will make it, and it is expensive, but it is worth it, and it forces me to leave the office ontime/early at least one day a week. The kids enjoy it, but mainly it makes me feel like I'm being a good mum, at least one day of the work week.

[moncler doudoune]

Don't know what is wrong what is rite but i know that every one has there own point of view and same goes to this one