Gymboree Today

As I've mentioned before, Gymboree classes are age specific. However, teachers will sometimes let older or younger siblings come to class too and play by themselves on the other side of the gym, as long as they don't get in the way or interrupt the class. Well today there was a woman there with a toddler boy (who's in Leilani's class) and a newborn baby boy. As usual, at the beginning of class we all sat in a circle and sang the "welcome song." During this time, the kids normally get up and run all over the circle and can get pretty wild.

So maybe that woman shouldn't have had her newborn baby laying on the floor next to her, while she held her toddler on her lap.

As you can guess, there was an accident. Unfortunately, it just HAD to involve Leilani. This is what happened: Leilani, being the rambunctious 15 month old that she is, got up from my lap and took off at full speed toward her favorite slide on one side of the room. Before anyone could react, she tripped over the newborn and landed flat on top of him. I literally screamed, "Oh my God!" The baby started wailing and I ran over and retrieved Leilani and apologized. I was MORTIFIED and I felt terrible for the newborn. I was so embarrassed that I avoided the woman for the rest of the class.

Later, the more I thought about it, I realized that I'm not the one who should be embarrassed. The woman should be. She should have NEVER laid her newborn baby on the floor of a gym during a class that has a dozen toddlers running wild. Sure I felt bad for the newborn, but I'm pissed at the mom. And I shouldn't have to feel embarrassed. She's the one that exhibited reckless parenting. Not me. Leilani (and all the other toddlers) go to Gymboree to take part in physical play. It's NO PLACE FOR A NEWBORN!!! And if you do bring a baby that small, DON'T SET IT DOWN ON THE FLOOR!!! Common sense, people!