Ring That Bell
Simon At Gymnastics from Ali Edwards on Vimeo.
Today I want to share a success. Because I love celebrating Simon.
Back in May Simon started attending a weekly gymnastics class. The goal was for him to work his body and build strength. It's a class for kids with special needs and he's really enjoyed it from the beginning as long as everything goes how he wants it to go. And because it's real life, some of the social parts have continued to be a challenge for him and we're continuing to work through it (a challenge to the point where he doesn't want to participate and lays on the floor vs. doing the exercises).
Last night he experienced a major success. The kind that builds strength of both body and mind.
Since he started a few months back he's been doing a lot of the same exercises each week, including the one you see in the video above where he goes backwards over the barrel. Last night was the first time he did it all by himself, with strength in his legs to push off and strength in his arms to stop him on the other end. When he started his teacher needed to roll him over the barrel and fully support his arms so he wouldn't hit his head.
The best part was how over-the-top excited he was about mastering this skill.
"Mom!" he said, "I can't believe I'm an expert!"
And then he went right back over and did it again and again with the biggest smile on his face. I live for those smiles.
At this gym when an athlete achieves a goal or masters a significant new skill they get to go ring a bell that sounds throughout the entire gym. People stop what they are doing and clap and cheer.
Simon got to ring the bell last night and it was awesome.
Go, Simon go!
Go Simon, so proud of you
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Thank you so much for sharing this inspirational story with us. I think it would be great if we all took time to recognize the "bell worthy" moments in each other's lives! I'm going to try to remember to do that more often.
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So awesome! Great job Simon! This made my morning.
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I replied to this post earlier today but as the day has gone on, I keep going back to read and reread this wonderful post. It warms the heart each time I read it and I can't help but think how blesses you are to have this wonderful boy in your life and how very fornunate Simon is to be blessed with such a caring, geniune and awesome Mom. You show us what is important in life each time I read your posts and or see your pages. Thank you!!
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Woo Hoo!! WAY to GO Simon!! :)
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yeah for Simon! what a wonderful accomplishment!
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Way to go Simon. You're awesome!!
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Go Simon, go!
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so very awesome, simon. :)
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Awesome job Simon!!!!
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Awesome. Just AWESOME. :) :) :) Way to go Simon!!!!
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Way to go Simon! That looks hard to do - and you conquered it. Great job!
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Congratulations Simon! Great job! So glad that you take time to enjoy every triumph with your children.
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Way to go Simon!! WOW, what a super fantastic accomplishment! You have the whole world cheering you on!
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Way to go Simon! You are so strong! You put your mind & body it in and accomplish something so fantastic!! There's no stopping you!
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Ali, I am still smiling and thinking about this great accomplishment, and I am feeling your joy in my heart - as I do when my own child makes a breakthrough like this. I want to take a minute to just applaud you too. You are such a hero to your kids. I wish all kids on the spectrum could have the same love and understanding as you so naturally give. You should be so proud of yourself too.
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What an achievement! Wish we could have been there to see it!
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Way to go, Simon! So proud for you!
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Yea for Simon and for you because you are such a good mother for him and yea for this whole community of blog followers who really care for you and your family even though we have never met.
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Love the RING THE BELL!! What a great idea for any gym!
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Congratulations Simon!! I think it is wonderful that the gym has a bell to help the students celebrate each other.
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That is awesome!! Way to go Simon!
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Thanks for sharing that! It's so wonderful to see Simon succeed.
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Really AWESOME! What a great place for kids!
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Way to go Simon!
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