Dax's Journal

First blood

Dax has moved up to a new gym class. Now, instead of a "Gymster" he's a "Terrific Tot". The class is for kids from 2.5 to 3.5 years old and it is a lot more structured. So where he used to be allowed to run wild the entire time like a tiny, crazed monkey? He is now sometimes required to follow directions, sit patiently, and wait for his turn. There's still plenty of wild monkey time but sometimes he has to behave a bit more like a trained monkey.

Now, I know, he's not technically old enough for this class yet but we have tested it out for the past two weeks and he's done very well so we've gotten the ok to move him on up. He's also got a little friend moving up with him which has made the transition much easier. Dax and Riley have been going to the gym together since the beginning and they rather enjoy each other's company. And I also very much enjoy Riley's mom so that works out nicely for me as well.

Yesterday during one of the Wild Monkey portions of the class he slipped and fell and busted his lip open on a wooden plank he was climbling up. He's done his share of falling at the gym but this was the first time he drew blood. And you know how mouth injuries are, right? Nice and juicy. So it bled more than you would think necessary based on the tiny nick he had. Of course, blood dripped down his chin and he somehow managed to smear some onto his forehead (???) and onto his shirt so as to make it look even more dramatic. One of the teachers immediately brought us paper towels and an ice pack.

The funny thing is that I could tell by how he was crying that he hadn't hurt himself too badly but the blood was just making it look worse than it was. To add to the tiny tragedy, Dax's little friend Riley saw the blood and this concerned her greatly. She came running to him from across the gym and her little eyes welled up with tears and she patted his leg and informed me helpfully, "Dax bleeding! Hurt!" I assured her that he would be fine and that he just had a little ouchie on his lip.

I guess he didn't want to look like a wuss in front of her because he stopped crying within seconds and shoved me and my silly paper-towel wrapped ice pack away. He totally gave me the toddler version of the, "I'm fine, mom. Sheesh. I'll walk it off...rub some dirt on it. Leave me alone."

Riley and Dax returned to their activities but as soon as Dax attempted the first gymnastics feat of the evening (walking on a rolling cylindar while holding onto some hanging rings) Riley yelled out, "Be CAREFUL Dax!" Then she turned to me with wide, worried eyes and kind of shook her head as if to say, "What are we going to do with him?"

So, see? This is why I'm not concerned about Dax being younger than the other kids in the class. He's got Riley looking out for him. That girl will mother him more than I've ever dreamed of!

Posted by michelle at December 14, 2006 09:02 PM