notthatmom
Proud Parent
So yesterday at practice, when DD was putting her shoes on in the lobby coach told me "She [DD] still isn't paying attention...and not just while she is waiting her turn, she's not working hard" (in front of the other parents who were there, so thanks for that, coach) I told her I'd talk to DD about it. So needless to say I didn't bring up the time off at Christmas request...that will have to wait until next practice...
When we got into the car I asked her "do you want to quit gymnastics?" She said no...I said "ok good, then what do you think you need to do?"
She said "get better at gymnastics?"
I said "no, that will come with time...and you're already great at gymnastics, what do you think according to what coach said, that you need to do now?"
She said "pay attention more?"
I said "Yes, while at practice, you need to listen and focus...if you want to play with your gym friends that's absolutely ok, I will set up play dates with your friends if that's what you want to do, do you understand what I mean?"
She said she did.
I told her "I know you're good at gymnastics, I saw you do your bar routine twice today without a spot, I know you're able to do it, so working harder each time will easily make you better"
Do you think I was too harsh? I don't like coaching/parenting her too hard on her gym skills, but since I told coach I'd talk to her about it, that's exactly what I did.
Is there some other way I can talk to her about it? I want her to be able to be a kid...she's my "serious" one and I know she works hard, but what is the best way to make sure she knows the balance between working hard, having fun, and taking it seriously (but not too seriously) if that even makes sense...
When we got into the car I asked her "do you want to quit gymnastics?" She said no...I said "ok good, then what do you think you need to do?"
She said "get better at gymnastics?"
I said "no, that will come with time...and you're already great at gymnastics, what do you think according to what coach said, that you need to do now?"
She said "pay attention more?"
I said "Yes, while at practice, you need to listen and focus...if you want to play with your gym friends that's absolutely ok, I will set up play dates with your friends if that's what you want to do, do you understand what I mean?"
She said she did.
I told her "I know you're good at gymnastics, I saw you do your bar routine twice today without a spot, I know you're able to do it, so working harder each time will easily make you better"
Do you think I was too harsh? I don't like coaching/parenting her too hard on her gym skills, but since I told coach I'd talk to her about it, that's exactly what I did.
Is there some other way I can talk to her about it? I want her to be able to be a kid...she's my "serious" one and I know she works hard, but what is the best way to make sure she knows the balance between working hard, having fun, and taking it seriously (but not too seriously) if that even makes sense...