I am sweating! I was just hula hooping. Oh my god, it is so much fun!
Today I played with a 3, 5, and 7 year old. I re-learned how to do a cart wheel, back bend, and hula hoop. Yes, I hesitated on my first cart wheel. Yes, I almost hurt myself on my first back bend attempt. And yes, I had a hard time re-learning how to hula hoop. Talk about frustration when you could do all three easy peasy, no problemo, forwards, backwards, eyes closed, tongue out.
How it all began:
Seven year old Olivia says, “Celeste, watch me do a cart wheel.” As I am watching her, I think, Hmmm……..can I still do one? I get up and I say, “Huh.” Of course my brother is reading my mind, “I can do a perfect cart wheel,” he says. Pfffft! Ya, right! So I try one, and I get a decent rating from the adults and kids. Of course, my brother is next. Sibling rivalry is wonderful. Except, he almost pulls a hammy, and I am not sure that he did a cart wheel per se. Fucking hilarious. Now everyone is doing cartwheels in the yard. Awesome!
Next, “Celeste, can you do a back bend?” Oh no. What did I get myself into? But now I am curious. Can I? Once upon a time I could do a back bend, a back walk over, a front flip, all of it. Now, I am pretty sure I may hurt myself, but I have to try! I start to bend backward, shit! I am already scared I am going to smack my head. What is key as a child? – No Fear. Ok, remember that. This is easy. You got this, just keep your arms stretched out and let your hands hit first. I had Faith. Holy shit! I did it. And it was easy! No problem. I do it again. Again. This is fun!
I am proud to be the only one, besides Olivia of course, that can do a back bend. My brothers attempt made us all cringe, and Amy (Olivia's Mom) refused to even try. Of course the younger kids did some form of sitting on the grass and saying it was a back bend. This served as a good laugh.
It is getting dark. It is time to go in. I am smiling. I had a good time with them. But wait, just when I think it is over, Olivia says, “Celeste, did you know that Mommy timed me and I can hula hoop for 12 minutes, and that I only quit because I got bored!” “Hmmm…” I say. Then I confess; I am not sure if I can hula hoop anymore either. “Here we go,” my brother says. Olivia was gone and back in a flash with two hula hoops. She knew she could get me to stay with this challenge.
My first attempt, I fail miserably! I look up, and there is Olivia, walking back and forth, spinning that sucker around her hips like a pro! Ok, I must get this before I can end my night. I watch her technique. I try a few more times, but can only keep it up briefly. I try again, and there it was, The Rhythm. Holy shit, it was so much fun. I stayed an extra ten minutes hula hooping. Who knew it could be so rewarding to hula hoop??? I knew it as a kid, but fuck if I didn’t forget as an adult. Why is that?
As I am leaving, I tell Olivia that by next Tuesday we can have a hula hoop challenge. I plan to practice and break her record. Ok, fat chance, I realize this, but Olivia is pumped about the challenge. She is super competitive and I adore it.
On most days, we have a couple options; we can watch our day go by and semi participate, or we can fully participate. Why would we choose to miss out!? Have we stopped fighting the good fight? Have we stopped seizing the day? And if so, why do we do this?
I realize we have so many “responsible” things to do as adults, but tell me you don’t waste time watching TV or pissing around on Facebook. I suggest canning both of these activities. Go buy a hula hoop and do what is REALLY important; have fun with the ones you love!
PS – I do not use the F word this much in front of the kids, I swear.....I mean I don't swear!
