Parents Motivation to Go to Meets

[Dream]

Ok this one is for the parents! It is of course competition season and about mid way through. How do you motivate yourself not your athlete to keep getting ready and go to meets?

 

[ORgymmom]

I get really stressed at meets and have an athlete who struggles at times, but even when meets are hard for her I’m always excited to go. It helps to have parents from multiple gyms I’m always happy to see, a fun plan for after the meet, and the joy of watching my daughter being out there and being a real gymnast.

She’s gone through mental blocks and scratches and all sorts of challenges, and I decided early on that I would watch her scratch or spectate the same as if she was winning. I also have a rule to clap and cheer for anyone who is competing in front of where I’m sitting or standing. It helps the meet go faster and it helps me feel less of a scarcity mindset. I’m happier when I want every girl to do great than when I would secretly hope someone would get a 9.275 instead of my daughter’s 9.3.

Took a while to get to that point, though.

I also keep candy in my purse.

 

[Dahlialover]

I have gym parent friends from all over, so meets are big social outings for me. My son wasn’t able to complete this season due to injury and I think that I’ll be very grateful when/if he competes next year. Most gymnasts only compete a couple of seasons, so it’s really quite fleeting. You really cannot take too many pictures. It goes so fast.