Hi Doc Ali, my DD is 14 and a senior gymnast. DD has trained for 10 years, competing for 9 seasons. We recently had an MRI showing a pars (spinal) fracture together with a congenital problem in her lumbar which the doctor has decided will preclude her from any further gymnastic activity. DD...
My DS came to me at age 13 in tears saying "I want to quit gym but if I'm not a gymnast then who am I". Having an identity crisis is normal when that sport takes so much of your time. Sometimes you need to work out whether it's the intensity of the sport you relate so strongly to or the actual...
Both DD and DS have been in competitive teams for 8 years. I missed them heaps. They would train after school until 8pm then instead of enjoying them I would have to push them to do homework, have showers etc. Not exactly family time.
No family holidays. All spare money goes on traveling to...
Yep, she probably does have natural talent as you were a gymnast yourself? Will she lose an opportunity at age 4, no. If you took her out of all gym classes and just went down to a park or beach everyday for a year would she still have the same gymnastic potential? Yes. Go very slowly, you...
Gymnastics takes up such a large amount of their time that it's only natural to feel lost when it goes. I am hoping my DD will finish up soon as I have injury burnout! When DD makes the decision I have lots of plans for filling up her time! Mostly selfish stuff though, like mother/daughter spa...
I have opposite problem with my DD (13) she has had ongoing hip growth plate problems and I am desperate to emancipate her into real world, but no luck so far. 8 years of brainwashing is hard to counter.
Sometimes when parents watch gymnastics it is frustrating because we focus on what is not happening rather than what is.
Your DD has learnt some valuable life skills in asking for help and coping with frustration in a positive way.
At 4 years old your DD does not require any "gymnastics...
My DD is the gymnast who trains beautifully, gains skills easily and generally works hard in practice. Competition is another story - very inconsistent. Fortunately DD has had a coach for the last 5 years who believes that with maturity she will start to compete better and the most important...
Fear is a large part of gymnastics and gymnasts all have their own way of dealing with it. You seem to be giving your DD some great tools in expressing her fear and overcoming it.
Many parents want to protect their children from fear, label it as a negative emotion and in doing so actually...
My DD has had ongoing patella femoral instability on one side and weak glutes on that side too, I believe that doing split jumps and other skills on only one side has made this more pronounced. DDs coach is now incorporating walking lunges with light weights and DD also does "clam shells".
Make sure she has enough protein in her diet. My DD found handstand push ups and training olympic weightlifting with her brother helped (fully supervised by coach). Totally agree about core strength. Best to find exercises that work core at same time as upper body.
Sorry Iwannabemargo - why not what in your country?:)
I also have two older sporty sons and my baby girl is the gymmie. When DD was 8 she trained 12 hrs p.w. and did ballet twice a week and diving once a week. We were a very busy family as DD proved in future years to be talented in...
Think its tough to choose now? She would probably be good at trampolining too and once she has her tumbling, cheerleading (or aerial skiing) will want her and then once she has a really good sprint on vault, she would probably be good at high jump, long jump, pole vaulting, etc. and in a couple...
Downunder, we have had gymnasts move on and be very successful at:-
- trampolining,
- pole vaulting,
- aerobics,
- diving and
- olympic weightlifting.
One thing I have often heard from these coaches is "where can I get more gymnasts?" as I have been personally involved in 3 of the above sports.
I do understand your questioning all this! I do regularly and have to come back to what my heart feels is true. We do not have crystal balls to predict our child's future and you never know you may not be producing an olympic gymnast but actually an olympic coach!
This is actually 4 sports...