Ella has tried and done a lot of extra activities these past few years. I think that I feel the need to have her do things. I'm not sure how to explain that really. I guess the best way is to say that Hunter has always done stuff. He started soccer when he was just a tiny little guy in Texas, started t-ball when he was 4 (and has pretty much stuck to both ever since, though he took a year off of soccer last year but is back at it this year) and this is his third year of Boy Scouts. SO, I guess I think if other kids are doing....stuff....then Ella should be too.
I always have the best of intentions going into an activity with her, and I always think that it will be something that Ella will LOVE. Things are usually pretty rough when we start an activity but I know Ella and I know that most of the time she will settle into the routine of it and then she will do great.
We tried TopSoccer a couple of years ago, when Ella was 4. It didn't go so well, and she never really settled into it. She loved the idea of going every Wednesday and was always excited to put on her soccer gear (after all she has had to sit on the sidelines and watch Bubba play all these years) but once we got there that enthusiasm was gone. She had a sweet sweet teenage girl paired with her as her "buddy." Perhaps she needed a buddy that wasn't nice, lol. Let's just say there wasn't a whole lot of soccer being played. It was a lot of hiding in Rubbermaid containers, laying in the goal, and a whole lot of saying "NO!" Parents were not allowed on the field and it was like torture for me to watch Ella behave that way. I hated it.
Ella and Riley at the awards ceremony....too funny : )
We tried dance class when Ella was 4, that lasted 1 class I think and I decided that Ella was just not ready for it. Then we tried again when she was 5. Ella LOVES to dance. I do not believe ballet is her style though. That class was a whole lot of waiting around for your turn, which isn't really Ella's thing, lol. When they were actually rehearsing their dance for the recital she was awesome, the rest of the time not so much. I ended up having to go in to class and stay in there to give Ella the stink eye when she began misbehaving. Lets just say Ella was not the worst behaved child in that class, not even the 2nd worst. But, I would do it all again just to watch the joy Ella got out of performing on stage at the recital. That child LOVES the spotlight and the crowd loved her! So many people came up to us after the show to talk to her, it was pretty awesome. I decided this year that we are not doing dance though....if we could just skip the months of class and go straight to the recital I totally would!
All made up for dress rehearsal
Then there is t-ball. Ella has done 2 summers of t-ball. I both hate and love it all at the same time. I love that Ella is participating in a sport that I loved. Ella does awesome at batting and running the bases, she really has a lot of fun. BUT, the standing in the field playing offense...not so much. In her defense t-ball is horribly boring unless you are playing pitcher, 1st base or catcher (which she HATES because it is so hard for her to move in the equipment which is so big on her.) When she does play pitcher or 1st base her attention is pretty good, otherwise it's a struggle to get her to stand in her spot. Mommy gets a good workout every game because I get to stand in the field and fight with her. I often wonder if it's worth it. I try really hard to keep my frustration in check but it's hard. I just want the child to behave. The other issue we have at t-ball is her new (this past summer) extreme heat intolerance. As in the child's face gets puffy, beat red and blotchy and her body temperature actually begins to rise. Who knows if we will do it again. When Ella likes it she really likes it, but when she doesn't...oh boy. I'm undecided as to whether she will play this summer or not. Probably, but we will see!
The first season...man she was SO little
2nd season....so much better at hitting and running
But fielding was still a challenge : )
Then there was Girl Scouts, Daisies to be exact. That, to me, was not fun at all. Ella's attention was horrible (a lot of that had to do with her Graves Disease and her levels being totally crazy.) She wasn't able to do a lot of the crafts, fine motor wise, without a lot of help. Which she doesn't like. She did love the idea of Girl Scouts. She was excited to go right before we left. She would tell the boys that we were going to GIRL Scouts and not Boy Scouts and no boys allowed. But she would typically fall apart behavior wise while we were there. We would come home exhausted. She loved seeing her friends but not worth it the frustration, for me or Ella.
We have been to Special Olympics Young Athletes a few times. I think it is a great program and is being run by two awesome ladies. But, Ella never wants to go. I will ask and she says "no I hate it Athletes." Now, she likes to say the word "hate" a lot. It doesn't mean that she actually hates it, lol, but she isn't excited to go. I think there are just too many people in the gym doing too many different things. Her focus isn't great there. I would go more if Ella at least acted like she wanted to go....not to mention Hunter doesn't like going either and he usually gets drug along because Chris is at work so that doesn't help. I really wish she liked to go because there are a lot of parents there I would like to visit with.
This year (school year) I decided that Ella wasn't doing any extra activities, outside of therapies of course. But as usual something came up that I thought man Ella sure would love that. This time it is gymnastics. A special needs class in fact. We have only been 3 times so far but I have to say this is the most excited Ella has ever been gotten about an activity. Every morning when I get her up she says "gymnastics today?" She really seems to enjoy it. So far so good! Now that's not to say that her behavior is perfect or that she pays appropriate attention the entire time, but she is doing well! The class so far is 5 kiddos. Two occupational therapists run the class, so I don't feel so angry when she doesn't listen.....they know what to expect, ha! I think this class is great for building strength, especially in her shoulders which have always been pretty weak. I have been AMAZED at her strength so far! I really hope that she continues to love gymnastics, I think it will be good for her!!
Yeah..that little kid upside down...that's Ella! Wow!
