I have made comments to people about my just turned six-year-old Bella before. She is dense as all get out, and weighs about 52 pounds. She is not fat, by any stretch, but muscular. She has been in gymnastics for going on three years now and is very good…the only kindergartener in her class, yes, I am a dad I gloat.
However, tonight she even amazed me. My son has been doing push-ups each night to get to play a computer game with me before bed. He has to do at least 10 GOOD ones before they count. His sisters were taunting him, in a healthy way, of course, and Bella says, “I can do that.” I said, “You show him Bell, Bell.” So she gets down and does 14 or so GOOD pushups in a row. I think she got bored at that point as she was the only one still doing them. I tell my son he has to do sit ups too and he gets down to do them and so does Bella. He does a few, for which I am grateful, and I look over at Bella, who has her hands parallel to the floor, held out straight, not touching her legs still going down to the floor and back up with ease, I look at my wife and she just tells me, “They work on that in gymnastics.”
At this point I am impressed, as she is stepping on my toes a little and I throw it out that she should try something like planks. My older daughter, who has caught on to my surprise, agrees and I challenge her to show Bella how it’s done. The both get down, pushup position on their elbows, Bella is frozen straight before I even say go and the other gets into position.
I start the timer on my iPhone and they go for it. At about thirty seconds, Bella is looking around and giggling and asking how she’s doing, still rock solid. The other is glancing Bellas way every few seconds to see if she is ready to break, no such luck. At just over a minute her sister drops her knees and Bella is still asking if her form is correct and not flinching. We finally tell her she can stop and she says, “But I can go longer.”
Pound for pound, she is probably in the best shape in the family and doesn’t even realize it. I hope it stays that way. Something that she just can and wants to do naturally, that she remains happy with who she is.
If you are wondering why I would share this story about Bella, at the possible detriment to her siblings, I would have to remind you that rivalry is a great motivator, and my kids love praise. Each one of them has their own strengths and weaknesses and just because someone might get a little ruffled is no reason not to recognize an achievement.
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