cyclopsmom
Proud Parent
- Jul 23, 2016
- 48
- 61
Just venting because I have no one to talk to as my husband just says "why do you keep going back for more" and the other gym moms I knew well have all gone away as their dds have moved on to other sports and activities.
I'll try to keep it short- my dd is not a great gymnast and often does not place well. She has been at her gym for 8 years next fall, and on team for 6. She loves gymnastics and works harder than I ever imagined an 11 year old could. Much harder than I ever could. She strongly considered quitting for next season, but decided that she was not ready to be done and has been practicing with the new groupings for 1 month. She is the only 1 of 6 girls on her previous team that does not practice in the highest optional group. That has been difficult for her, and she was in tears on Thursday night after practice because of it. I tried to let the coach know that dd is feeling discouraged, so coach took her aside and told her that the current group is where she belongs because she is the "weakest in the high group and the strongest in the low group". Funny how the dividing line starts right before her and how one more person in the high group is just not possible. BUT, I understand that it is not my call, and I know her level 6 season did not go well so I try to do what everyone says and "trust the process".
Then, tonight, we go to the team banquet. Coach has always given awards to every team member, but this year decided to do only 4 per team. In levels 2-4, there were 10-15 girls, and each level had 4 award winners. In level 5 there were 3 girls and each girl got an award. In level 6, there were 6 girls and 4 awards- my daughter and another girl who has moved to another gym did not get awards. In level 7 there were 2 girls, both of whom received awards. In level 8, there were 5 girls. I waited to see if they would leave the extra girl out. . . and they did NOT. They gave the 5th girl a special award. So from levels 5-8 my dd and another girl who left the team for another gym were the only ones who did not get an individual award. Dd handled it well, but I was highly annoyed. Dd had to watch all of her teammates receive awards while she got nothing for all of her hours of hard work and years of dedication. This was pretty much how all of her awards ceremonies went this season, and it seemed like rubbing salt in the wound to me.
Finally, coach decides to call up each individual gymnast to recognize them(even though they have all been up front once already. She calls up a group of 20 or so girls of all levels, but not dd. Then coach calls the "35" club (dd scored no higher than 34 so she is not called). Then the "36 club". Then, just as the "37 club" is being called, someone realizes that dd is still sitting in the audience, near tears, They call her up, mispronounce our last name, and point out that she scored a 34 (no one in the first group had scored a 35, but their scores were not announced.) I was livid about the whole thing. How hard would it be to give every member of our small optional team an award? How hard is it to remember a gymnast who has been giving it her all (even if it doesn't measure up) for 8 years? Who had so much fun curling her hair, putting on makeup, and searching for a dress and shoes in preparation for this special event? She tried to keep a smile on her face, but I could see she was crushed.
Dd is at a friends house tonight, and I am so glad I will have a chance to get it together before talking to her. Thanks for reading if you made it this far-I failed miserable at keeping it short.
I'll try to keep it short- my dd is not a great gymnast and often does not place well. She has been at her gym for 8 years next fall, and on team for 6. She loves gymnastics and works harder than I ever imagined an 11 year old could. Much harder than I ever could. She strongly considered quitting for next season, but decided that she was not ready to be done and has been practicing with the new groupings for 1 month. She is the only 1 of 6 girls on her previous team that does not practice in the highest optional group. That has been difficult for her, and she was in tears on Thursday night after practice because of it. I tried to let the coach know that dd is feeling discouraged, so coach took her aside and told her that the current group is where she belongs because she is the "weakest in the high group and the strongest in the low group". Funny how the dividing line starts right before her and how one more person in the high group is just not possible. BUT, I understand that it is not my call, and I know her level 6 season did not go well so I try to do what everyone says and "trust the process".
Then, tonight, we go to the team banquet. Coach has always given awards to every team member, but this year decided to do only 4 per team. In levels 2-4, there were 10-15 girls, and each level had 4 award winners. In level 5 there were 3 girls and each girl got an award. In level 6, there were 6 girls and 4 awards- my daughter and another girl who has moved to another gym did not get awards. In level 7 there were 2 girls, both of whom received awards. In level 8, there were 5 girls. I waited to see if they would leave the extra girl out. . . and they did NOT. They gave the 5th girl a special award. So from levels 5-8 my dd and another girl who left the team for another gym were the only ones who did not get an individual award. Dd handled it well, but I was highly annoyed. Dd had to watch all of her teammates receive awards while she got nothing for all of her hours of hard work and years of dedication. This was pretty much how all of her awards ceremonies went this season, and it seemed like rubbing salt in the wound to me.
Finally, coach decides to call up each individual gymnast to recognize them(even though they have all been up front once already. She calls up a group of 20 or so girls of all levels, but not dd. Then coach calls the "35" club (dd scored no higher than 34 so she is not called). Then the "36 club". Then, just as the "37 club" is being called, someone realizes that dd is still sitting in the audience, near tears, They call her up, mispronounce our last name, and point out that she scored a 34 (no one in the first group had scored a 35, but their scores were not announced.) I was livid about the whole thing. How hard would it be to give every member of our small optional team an award? How hard is it to remember a gymnast who has been giving it her all (even if it doesn't measure up) for 8 years? Who had so much fun curling her hair, putting on makeup, and searching for a dress and shoes in preparation for this special event? She tried to keep a smile on her face, but I could see she was crushed.
Dd is at a friends house tonight, and I am so glad I will have a chance to get it together before talking to her. Thanks for reading if you made it this far-I failed miserable at keeping it short.