One of my cousins taught Richie how to do a summersault maybe a year or two ago. Tonight, during our "exercise" I asked Richie to show me what exercises he knows, and of course it was the summersault. My husband suggested he try doing a head stand and boy did he try. He ended up doing more of an "upside down bicycle" as my husband calls it. I helped Richie do a real head stand with support. Then, without hesitation I said, "Do you want me to show you how I do it?"
I've always thought modeling was one of the best ways to teach anything (I'm a somewhat visual learner). I didn't really stop to think if I could still actually do a head stand. Lucky for me, I could. I don't think I've ever been any cooler. Seriously, go ask your Mom if she can do a head stand and get back to me, because she must be a real cool lady and I need to know her. Richie and Lily squealed with delight at the sight of me upside down. My dismount was calculated and, even with children scrambling closer to get a better look, I managed to get myself right side up without wavering my balance for a second.
When you've had years of practice, it's hard not to make it look easy. So, I said to Richie, "You know, when I was your age, I used to practice all the time. I'd find a space of wall with nothing else around it and use it to stabilize my body while I practiced. Do you want me to show you how?"
Of course the answer was yes. I cleared a nice spot in between our front door and cat scratch-post, and showed him how to do it. I'm now imagining countless hours of an upside down Richie in that space. My fondest days with my children are always ones like these- days when I get to show them and teach them something new that they love, just like I loved it when I was a kid.
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