Gym-not-stics

Gym-not-stics: noun. A series of rather clumsy actions that children perform after seeing someone trained do them, particularly gymnasts.

Recently, Monkey Son #1 was watching gymnastics during the Olympics. Well, you've heard the phrase, "Monkey see, monkey do," right? He started jumping in the air and spinning as best he could, and at some point tried to do tricks on his bed. Of course, I did the responsible thing and told him that the people on TV have had special training and gone to special schools to learn how to do what they do. He got off with a little more understanding and no injury.

Once upon a time, my older sister was not so lucky. Family lore states that our father had let her watch a circus on TV, and she thought it would be great to play high wire with a jump rope. She ended up with a broken arm.