Parents 6 Days 'Til States - Parent Support Group Needed

[kristilyn73]

Hey Granny!

Beetle has State a week from Saturday.. I am already having panic attacks.. I need a support group! Can we meet in Chicago again over a big pasta dinner and a couple glasses of wine?

I wasn't stressed about state at all since I know Regions are such a long shot for Beetle, until Friday.... Ahh... our Region changed their L8 Qualifying... ready for this? Anyone scoring over a 34 goes.... yep you heard it.. a 34... Beetle has done it in a few meets but hasnt in a LOT of meets.. if she is on she can do it with room to spare.. if she is off.. well lets just say it will be more stress than I can handle.... OH boy...

I think all of us parents should go on a Chalk Bucket Retreat to some warm tropical location after meet season ... I say this as I look out the window at the freezing rain and the inch of ice on the trees... I think we put up with way more than any other sport parent does! LOL..

Good luck to your gymmie at States! she has had an amazing year! I know she will do great!

 

[arcade]

LOL!! I agree with the Chalk bucket retreat, sounds like a great idea, I feel like life will only be normal again after competition season ends!!

 

[Granny Smith]

You would think that out of courtesy that they would respond to all petitions, whether it is a yes or no, but I guess they just dropped the ball this time. I do not know what the standard practice is.

I think your dd is special though because she is going to support her team mates regardless of her position - that is very thoughtful of her!

I receive these thru email since I do all of our meet registrations for team. I've also been on the aganj site and DD's name is not on the list. However, you would think out of courtesy, they would have gotten back to the gym/coach either way?

 

[Granny Smith]

GL to your dd also. 8am is a hard report time, but at least she doesn't have time to think about it, she just goes and does her thing. I hear ya about not wanting to get a hotel room. I was so ticked that I had to get a room for dd's 3rd sectional. It was 1.5 hrs away like yours, with the 8am report time but we also had to factor in daylight savings started that day. There was no way we could of driven from home. Luckily, I shared a room with another mom and gymmie.

My level 8 dd has state Sun. She has the first session of the day 8am. It's an hour forty min drive, so we will be up at 5 and leave by 6. We thought of staying at the hotel (it's at a hotel-casino!) but decided it wouldn't be worth it to spend another $150 for hotel for only an extra hour. Last year she missed regionals by only a couple of tenths.
Good Luck to everyone else competing this weekend!

 

[Granny Smith]

OMG , what a bad situation! Well, tell dd that at least she is very familiar with the equipment!

That is such a tough situation to be in, I hope she is strong enough to handle it, I mean she is only 12 you can only expect so much out of them. I hope she can tune them all out and do well.

Granny---Will be more than glad to join the group. L8 state sessions are on Sat.---L9 and 10 go on Sunday. This is going to be the toughest meet of gymmie's life for various reasons. That 12 yo group is just fearce and guess where we get to compete? The gym we left about 18mos ago due to VERY negative coaching. So, at 8am on Sat., she's got to march in there ready to compete and not think about the bad things that happened. Now, the meet wasn't even supposed to be there---the host gym had told the state association it would be in one of those big community type halls(the type that host garden, car, home improvement type shows). Suddenly(like 1.5 wks ago) it comes out it will be at their gym. Its a nice size gym with good equipment, but it will be overflowing with the crowds coming for this meet. Not a biggie to get her up since we're only about 10 minutes away. Oh yeah---she is the only one from our gym in that session so she doesn't even have a teammate to bond with and funny that 3/4 of the host gym's L8 team are all in that session. Will be curious to see the numbers in each age group.

Granny, I may not eat from about Thursday night on. Maybe we can see which mom can go without food for the longest period prior to states
Gymmie is doing 2 privates this week on beam/floor and most of you know I don't like relying on privates, but the beam coach seems to have taken somewhat of a spring break. This other coach already understands all the pressure gymmie will be under and is going to fine tune her fx and just give her "beam confidence."

VGM---Hoping for the best for your dd!!! So close last year to going to regionals. I'm sure she'd like to leave her current gym as a regional competitor.

BTW Granny---lousy session time for dd, but she'll manage just fine.

 

[Granny Smith]

Maybe the stress of States is getting to her and it is affecting her connection. Tell her to try to relax and visualize herself doing the connection. The mind feeds the body.

Although we are bundles of nerves and can barely function, us moms (and dads) need to be the voice of reason and do whatever we can to boost their confidence - and never, ever let them know how we truly feel!

WE are at states in 6 days too and Emily is having mental blocks on her darn connections of the round off back handsprings. So we need all the luck in the world... that she makes the connection and doesn't stop... she does it about 50% of the time right now
Don't know what happened but this is very stressful to all of us...

 

[Granny Smith]

Oh yeah Blackie, I will stop by and say hi! We are definitely coming up early to watch some of the Jr. A group. No one from our gym is in that session, but I do know someone from another gym and we can watch her for a little bit. Saving the best for last, ha-ha, the Jr. B group is like the group of death! It is so tough!

I didn't get to see any of her practice last night, but she said she was judged on bars and got a 9.5 - which of course means nothing, but it helps to build her confidence. She really didn't say much else, so I guess it was a good practice. I will be able to catch about an hour of tonight's practice so I will see how that goes...

Is the airbrush guy gonna be there this yr? I have always gotten dd a shirt from the airbrush guy since she was a level 4 - so I don't want to break tradition...

I hear it is just regular seats, no bleachers. Is there a separate awards area, do you know?

You can come talk to me! I'll be there for at least the first 3 sessions and maybe the 4th too (your DD's session), I'm at merchandise table again, LOL, and DD is awards girl. Maybe we'll stay to watch. Last session is tough...the whole day to sit and wait...UGH! Look at it this way...they saved the BEST for the last! You have a great group of talented girls and I am sure there will be some GREAT gymnastics. In my short couple years of experience I've adapted a "no talk" week preceding a states meet. I don't ask about practice too much, talk about nerves, skills, scores, anything! We try to keep everything calm and normal and organized with gym bag packed, snacks/drinks ready to go, ect...sounds like you've got the day planned pretty well. Let me know if you need to know about anything in the area for the ride in and I can try to help you. This area is new to us too, our gym moved last Summer, but I know my way around pretty well for food and shopping, I live about 15 minutes away from this new location.

Granny, your DD will do fine I am sure...she has had an amazing season and I know she probably feels the pressure, expecially with the whole regionals thing, but she will shine!

 

[Granny Smith]

Hey kristilyn,

I could use the wine, skip the pasta right now (ha-ha-ha)!

The stress is killer. What you said is exactly how I feel too. If they hit, you know they will make it to Regionals, it's if they don't that the real panicing will kick in. I just want beam over with. My dd is dependent on beam. Since she doesn't have the big vault, she needs a big beam score to keep pace with the mega-vaulters....

Beetle can do it, yes she can! She just needs to be relaxed and focused and she will hit!

Chalk Bucket Retreat - I'm all for that! Some place warm and sunny!! Oh, best part - no kids!

Hey Granny!

Beetle has State a week from Saturday.. I am already having panic attacks.. I need a support group! Can we meet in Chicago again over a big pasta dinner and a couple glasses of wine?

I wasn't stressed about state at all since I know Regions are such a long shot for Beetle, until Friday.... Ahh... our Region changed their L8 Qualifying... ready for this? Anyone scoring over a 34 goes.... yep you heard it.. a 34... Beetle has done it in a few meets but hasnt in a LOT of meets.. if she is on she can do it with room to spare.. if she is off.. well lets just say it will be more stress than I can handle.... OH boy...

I think all of us parents should go on a Chalk Bucket Retreat to some warm tropical location after meet season ... I say this as I look out the window at the freezing rain and the inch of ice on the trees... I think we put up with way more than any other sport parent does! LOL..

Good luck to your gymmie at States! she has had an amazing year! I know she will do great!

 

[gym mom]

First off your dd has had a great season and I am sure she will do great.That late of a session would stink for sure.I get a nervous wreck at state meets,but having to think about regionals to wow.Shopping does sound like a good idea to try to keep you mind off of the meet and some wine the night before is always a good relaxer.

 

[gym law mom]

OMG , what a bad situation! Well, tell dd that at least she is very familiar with the equipment!

That is such a tough situation to be in, I hope she is strong enough to handle it, I mean she is only 12 you can only expect so much out of them. I hope she can tune them all out and do well.

Granny---I did try that line about being more familiar with the equipment than most of the girls. It helped---a little. Of course, before we got the session times(only 3 days ago) I had told her alot of the girls/parents from our gym would be there. Have to say our team kids are very good about going to support the teams competing. BUT now she knows that almost nobody comes to the 8am sessions except parents and all of her teammates compete in the later sessions, so they won't be there. A couple have said they will try and come a little early for the 2nd session and at least cheer gymmie on in the last rotation. Told them we understood if their parents didn't want to show up that early.
She came home from practice last night and coach told her she starts on vault(will be up 3rd) then last on bars---didn't get lineup for beam/fx although coach said she doesn't go up 1st on any event. Was told she and a couple other girls will be rotating with a gym that has come to our summer camp. Ok, she was all excited---she has made a good friend on that team. Sent her a text "we'll be together at states!" Bubble burst when this girl got back to her saying she is 13, so will be in the late session(uuuuhhhhh no), but told gymmie that she will tell her teammates that are competing in gymmie's session to "adopt" her and make her one of their team for the meet. I thought that was sweet and we promised to be there to cheer this girl on---plus 2 from our team.

Yes, she is thinking/talking about the R(regionals) word. I don't even mention it. You are so right that this is alot for this 12yos to handle!! On top of everything else, possible big winter storm moving in on Thurs/Fri.

 

[hunde2]

We have State this weekend also.Already feel the stress too.Have a upset stomach for a few days now and it seems to be getting worse.
Granny-I know your dd will do great.I'm just glad if K qualifies to Regionals.Since we don't have very many Level 9's they only need a 34 to qualify.
I don't think she will make it to Western.She might have a little chance if she hits all of her event's.Yesterday in practice was the first time she made all of her routines on the first try.Wished she done that at the beginning of season.I'm happy if she only qualifies to regionals.
We have a 8 hr drive to state so we have to leave the night before.She
GL to everybody that's going to State this weekend.

 

[Granny Smith]

K has really improved this season and has become more consistent with each meet. I believe that she will make it to Regionals and then you just go from there.

That's one long drive that you have, be safe!

GL K and all the others out there!

We have State this weekend also.Already feel the stress too.Have a upset stomach for a few days now and it seems to be getting worse.
Granny-I know your dd will do great.I'm just glad if K qualifies to Regionals.Since we don't have very many Level 9's they only need a 34 to qualify.
I don't think she will make it to Western.She might have a little chance if she hits all of her event's.Yesterday in practice was the first time she made all of her routines on the first try.Wished she done that at the beginning of season.I'm happy if she only qualifies to regionals.
We have a 8 hr drive to state so we have to leave the night before.She
GL to everybody that's going to State this weekend.

 

[Blackie6]

Just signed up tonight for the last session! I will now be working the meet from 8am til whenever that last group is done. I am not sure this was a good idea...long day...but this way I am sure to see your DD and her team!

It's HUMP day...how are you holding up??? Sending off a cyber ((hug)) for you!

 

[Granny Smith]

I'm doing ok. Dd told me that they are taking her BT out of her beam routine for States, everyone on team is taking it out, so in hopes to go clean. Now if they could take out the series, I'd be really happy! I know, no can do!

She also has informed me that she is scoring over a 9 on vault. She is absolutely positive she is, so I am very happy about her newfound vault confidence - I hope she is right. She got very close at the last meet and had a big step. She watched the video of herself with me and she told me she is vaulting much better than that now - love it!

She had off from gym last night, but will be back tonight. I wish the week would go a little more slow, the weekend will be here before I know it.

Blackie - that is one long day you will be working, but I am sure you will see some fantastic gymnastics! I will definitely be by to see you.

Just signed up tonight for the last session! I will now be working the meet from 8am til whenever that last group is done. I am not sure this was a good idea...long day...but this way I am sure to see your DD and her team!

It's HUMP day...how are you holding up??? Sending off a cyber ((hug)) for you!

 

[catesmom]

Good Luck to all competing this weekend! It's so nice to be sittig here relaxing right now. Although I do have to get up tomorrow and make a side dish for coaches food for the 8-9-10 states this weekend. I'm working on friday, Cates BFF is in the second sesion, so we wanted to be there to cheer her on!

Can't wait to read all the meet reports!

The GL fairies here have had a week to rest, so we will be sending them out to those of you needing them this weekend.

 

[cathiann]

You must be in Minnesota too--I know we changed the qualifying for Regionals to 34--guess not a lot of 8s are scoring above that!

State meet for us is in a week now too--Beth competes bright and early Saturday morning--yawn.
'
Oh--if you are in MInnesota--be warned. We've been told parking at the meet site is TOUGH on Saturday--apparently the school is hosting two other major events too. So get there early.

 

[gym law mom]

Less than 24 hours!

Ok, less than 24 hours to go for us. Big snowstorm has seemed to come to an end, so the girls should be able to get in and have 1 last practice. I will be sending very positive thoughts to many girls/parents who in good weather would have a 4-5 hour drive to this area of the state, but after a major storm, may be on the road much longer. I'm sure alot of travel plans were changed over the last day or so.

Gymmie did 2 privates and the coach she asked to help her, made some little changes to her fx---took out a dance move that she feels she getting deducted on and added about 3 seconds of movement before her 1st tumbling pass. She was ending the tumbling pass and then would just stand there for about 4 seconds before going into some dance and her leaps. It looked like she either forgot to so something or was waiting for a bus. We had asked her fx coach to look and it and do something with that "dead" time, but she never did. She also worked some on beam and this coach worked big time with her "showing off the routine." Push the shoulders back, extend the arms as far as she can, tight, tight legs.

I guess I'll go watch the end of practice(I should know better!!) and then its home and in bed by about 9pm.

Last night, gymmie baked cookies from scratch for all her teammates who are competing this weekend. Then wrapped them in colored tissue paper and put little note with their names on each one.

I'm not expecting top 3 in any event or going to regionals given all that is going on with her meet---just want her to be able to walk out saying she conquered going back to the previous gym and put her best out there.

GL to everyone else!!!! I don't know if I'll be able to post for a couple of days because I'm sure gymmie will want to be at the meet to cheer on her teammates.

 

[gymjourneymom]

Sending the "Good luck fairies" to all competing this weekend!

 

[mariposa]

Looking forward to hearing all about everyone's state meet from this weekend!