How Vivo Has Grown Up with Us
Note: This post is sponsored, but all opinions are my own.
When I think about Vivo, it’s hard to remember a time when it wasn’t a place we visited each week. It feels like such a big part of our lives now, and for that I am truly thankful.
Before kids, my husband and I would go to Vivo (Cardel Place back then) occasionally to work out, go for a swim or play badminton. It was a fun place to hang out with friends and work up a sweat. We didn’t go that often, because we were “busy.” It’s funny how that word’s definition completely changes after you have children. ;)
Fast forward many years, and we had a beautiful baby girl. We took her on play dates, shopping, and even the movies. Reflecting back, I wish we would have spent more time taking her swimming or even to the library. There are so many programs that I didn’t know about back then.
When our daughter was three, I was trying to find the best preschool for her. We wanted a place that was close to our home and gave her a chance to socialize with other kids. Learning ABCs and numbers was important too, but she was already familiar with these concepts and we really wanted to prioritize her interactions with others.
My friend Peita told me about the preschool program at Vivo. She loved it because the kids had access to all the wonderful facilities at Vivo like the gym and the library -- they even went swimming once a month! It sounded perfect, so we signed her up for the afternoon class.
To say that she thrived is an understatement. When she started preschool, she was very shy and nervous around new people. By year’s end, she was approaching kids she didn’t even know at the playground and asking if they wanted to play with her. We were thrilled.
And her little sis loved Vivo too. We enrolled both in swimming programs, and took them to free classes at the library. They took dance classes and gymnastic classes together and loved every minute. I am really impressed by the quality of the teachers at Vivo -- at the preschool, at swimming, and at the various classes they offer.
When it was time for Lil’ Sis to start preschool, the choice was obvious. She had practically grown up at Vivo and already knew the preschool teachers that had taught Big Sis. On the first day, she ran into the class and didn’t look back.
My girls have graduated to elementary school, so now they visit when they have swimming or badminton class. We also like to go for the occasional family swim or take them to the climbing wall.
Last summer, we got a family pass and we went swimming once a week. I also remember a lot of birthday parties -- we had 3 different friends that decided to host their kids’ birthdays at Vivo, complete with giant bouncy houses. The girls had a blast, as always.
In the fall when the girls returned to school, I finally had my mornings free. I took the opportunity to try the drop-in classes at Vivo, and I relish the time to do something that’s just for me.
So you could say that we grew up at Vivo, or that Vivo grew up with us. Whether we’re swimming, going to a Lego competition or learning about Diwali, I feel like there’s always something new and interesting for us to get involved in.
