|
I'm the mom of a gymnast. I'm not just any mom - I'm a mom of a mature age (think AARP) who has a ten year old USAG competitve gymnast. I am not a sports psychologist! I just play one during gymnastics practice while sitting with the other moms in the parent viewing area. Don't think "Dance Moms"!
My thoughts and views of the sport come from having more life experiences than my younger counterparts. I have been asked for a lot of advice, offered my shoulder to cry on and have provided the empathetic ear to moms trying to figure out this crazy sport of gymnastics; all the while trying to figure it out myself.
The intent of this blog is to share my experiences as a gymnastics mom so that you know someone else has thought, felt or experienced the same things you are experiencing. I’m just putting my thoughts out there for everyone to read and share. If nothing else…it will give you something to talk about with your fellow gym moms!
The title of this blog is K.I.I.P (one extra “I” but named after that dreaded bar skill parents lose sleep over!). K.I.I.P stands for Keep It In Perspective! This is just as difficult a place for parents to journey to as the skill our gymnasts must accomplish when they are learning bar routines!
We have all prayed, encouraged, lit candles, paid for private lessons, asked the coach’s opinion, asked other parent’s opinions, made excuses, researched the internet, watched videos of other gymnasts and a host of other mediums to figure out how to help our gymnasts learn that skill on the bars. Perhaps if parents could Keep It In Perspective regarding how we conduct ourselves in the presence of our gymnasts, it could make this journey a 9.2 (I deducted .8 for the bumps and bruises along the way!).
I don’t know how many topics I have to write about. Each meet, practice and conversation a gym mom brings new thoughts and ideas that I need to get onto paper, then shared with others. Check back weekly to see how this parent is keeping it in perspective!
Next Topic – From Pixies to Olympics in 1 Week!
|