I was wanting to get Sam enrolled in one of Brainerd’s ECFE classes, while checking on them in the Fall ISD 181 booklet, we found we’d end up missing a few of the classes in his session, so we came across the Wiggle-A-While program that is held on Friday mornings for a couple hours. Jim and I decided that this might be the best option for us at this time, to get out of the house and to get Sam more engaged with kids other than just doing daycare one day a week.
So our first attempt was last Friday.
You have to have your pass before you get there (purchased at the ECFE office), so since I had kinda forgot about it, I called that Thursday to find out if we could go to the office first to get the pass and then straight over to Franklin school where the kids gather. “Yep, no problem, someone’s always here between 7:30 & 8:00am.”, the lady on the other end tells me. Perfect. I’ll do that. So we ran over to the ECFE office, walk in, no one in sight…there’s a large gym-like room with a bunch of tables in it with a janitor-looking man in there fixing on something. I asked him about getting help and he informs me that no one is working today, they are all at seminars…I explain my situation and my phone conversation. He dug around the desk of an office staff person, hoping that he could find a glimmer of hope there…no such luck! We agreed I’d try going and explain the situation to the leader there, especially since the lady had told me getting a pass would be no problem.
So, I load Sam back up in the van, which in the process, we found a marble in the parking lot, BONUS! (for a nearly three year old). We get over to Franklin, head down to the lower gym, I’m suddenly noticing how incredibly quiet it is. Hummm, that’s weird, an open gym time for toddlers and preschoolers and no shrieks, yells and screaming? Somethings wrong. I get to the gym doors and notice the Wiggle-A-While sign which states that there is only two Fridays in November…DANG!
Attempt number two.
Today we try to attempt the same process of last week. I get to the ECFE office and go to my purse to get my checkbook. Rut rut, dig dig, scramble scramble. Shoot! I panic and call Jim, wondering in the back of my head if there was anyway ECFE would take a credit card…yeah, probably not. I get Jim on the phone, “Did you not put the checkbook back in my purse?” I think I really called him for support more than an interigation, since we never know where our checkbook is. We decide together that it must be at home. So I’m thinking, “Where is the closest ATM?” Way the heck over by mid-town. CUB! I’ll run to Cub and buy something on my debit and get cash! Which made Sam quite happy…
A TREAT!
Get the treat, get the cash, we are on our way! Back to ECFE, this attempt become a success, as someone is there and she knows where the passes are (better then the janitor-dude!).
Wiggle time.
We arrive at the lower gym and “Praise God!” there are other people there! We go in register and start wiggling! It was quite a fun time. At first there were only two other mom’s each with one child there. They seemed to be friends that came together, it made it a little awykward…we chit chatted…small talk. Sam was a bit overwhelmed I think. The gym had one side that was open with trikes, push toys and those fun little carts we used to run our fingers over with in gym class. The other side was loaded with toys and climbing things…a jungle gym, foam blocks, balls, two trampolines, teeter totters, tunnels, etc. He just didn’t know what to do first! So, if you know Sam at all, this next part won’t surprise you, he pretty much spent about 10 seconds on each thing and ran from one area to the next!
They also had a fun craft where the kids got to make a turkey out of different shapes. (I’d post a pic, but am too lazy!) He ended up having a good time and I felt like we were able to play well together for a couple hours. By the end I’d say there must have been 20 kids there, which made it much more comfortable and engaging for all. I’m looking forward to doing it all again!
I didn’t take any pics there this time, but will post a cute recent one of him “wiggling” at home!
