My aching heart. This video by GymChicksRock on youtube struck a deep chord with me.
I am the mother of a competitive gymnast. She trains twelve hours a week, and spends three hours a week commuting in the car. She lives, breathes, loves gymnastics. I am a proud Mama…but am trying to protect her heart. The heart of the girl who is giving gymnastics her everything. We are trying to show her the world outside of gymnastics, cheering from the sidelines, encouraging her to give it her all, helping her go for her dreams always aware that a day will come when we will have to coach her to move on to a new dream. The ‘Lympics is not in her future and that is fine! We are so proud.
Sigh. It’s a difficult balance.
Here is to all of the competitive athletes out there giving it there all every single day, and to all the parents wiping tears, bandaging knees and cheering with all that they have got from the side lines. I wish you luck.
It is a sad video. And what’s worse is that some girls have their heart set on winning only for it to get broken. And then you have the girls that are forced to do it because thats what their parents want them to do. I’m so glad right now that I only have a boy. Girls get hurt more emotionally than boys, well the boys don’t show it because their taught not to cry or show emotions. So would that be worse trying to keep everything bottled up inside? Maybe boys get hurt more emotionally? What does everyone think?
That’s such a competitive and grueling sport. Hopefully, she’ll continue to enjoy it for a little longer.