Getting to know each other thread...

[Sterlingdad]

1. How many kids do you have? How old? What grade?
I've got 5 children ages 10 (DD 4th grade), 8 (DD 3rd grade gymnast), 7 (DS 1rst grade), 5 today (DD, Kindy in fall), and 3 (DS). My 5 year old just started kiddie gymnastics. My 8 year old is level 5.

2. How many years has your child(ren) been in gymnastics? My DD started when she was two, so 6 years now.

3. What level is your gymnast(s)? It's been tough because she's moved so much (Minnesota, Scotland, Florida, Tennessee, Scotland and now Kansas since 2001). She's level 5 here, but her old teammates in TN are level 6. Her teammates in Scotland are Level 4 compulsory elite.

4. Do you work? How do you juggle your job/gymnastics if so? We take turns driving. My wife stays home so we have some flexibility.

5. What do you love about gymnastics/dislike about gymnastics? The discipline, the learning how to win with dignity and lose with poise. Knowing that practice matters, and that one bad day isn't forever.

6. Tell us about YOU! College professor. I was changing fields so went for extra degrees in Tennessee (Historical Theology) and Edinburgh, Scotland (Church History), before coming back to the USA to take a psychology job again (not enough Church History jobs out there... had to feed the family).

Still grieving about gymnastics after making the decision to quit gyms and stay local --which will mean few hours and AAU only. Last year my DD passed her Scottish trials with Distinction, was first on floor, and second AA in the country for her age, and was selected for the National Developmental Squad training with the Olympic choreographer once a month in Largs. This year she cannot do a front handspring anymore because she only trains 4 hours a week. C'est la vie. We're hoping soccer, softball and drama will soften the loss.

[Gymmonkeymomma]

1. How many kids do you have? How old? What grade?
3 kids -
11 yr old girl, 5th gr (middle school)
7.5 yr old boy & girl twins, 2nd gr
2 yr old furry black lab

2. How many years has your child(ren) been in gymnastics?
DD#1 - started at age 4, in her 8th yr of gym, 4th yr competing.
DD#2 - started at 2.5, 5th yr gym, 2nd yr competing
DS - started 2.5 yr, quit at 6 to do other things - now plays on 2 soccer teams and street hockey in summer

3. What level is your gymnast(s)?
DD1 - Finished USAG Level 7, currently competing 2nd yr Silver USAIGC.
DD2 - USAG Level 5, 2nd yr USAIGC Bronze

4. Do you work? How do you juggle your job/gymnastics if so?
I quit my "real" job several yrs ago to better accommodate my kids' schedules. I used to be in pharmaceutical regulatory affairs. Now I am head teacher at a preschool and regulatory affairs consultant.

5. What do you love about gymnastics/dislike about gymnastics?
Likes - teaches children to be disciplined, focused, committed. Fosters close friendships among team members of all ages.
Dislikes - competitiveness of some parents (myself at times too), injuries/fears

6. Tell us about YOU!
As crazy as this may sound - I thrive on running from one activity to another, juggling different responsibilities. For years, I ran the Holiday shop at my kids' school and served on many different PTA committees. Now I'm on the Board of the parent's association at the gym. I belong to a book club. I have been a Girl Scout volunteer / leader for the past 6 yrs. I taught Sunday school for 3 yrs. I can't imagine when my kids are grown and won't need me to be involved in all of these things! What would I do with all the spare time?

[Livinatthegym]

Quote:
Originally Posted by mariposamama Anyone interested in a get to you each other thread? 1. How many kids do you have? How old? What grade? 2. How many years has your child(ren) been in gymnastics? 3. What level is your gymnast(s)? 4. Do you work? How do you juggle your job/gymnastics if so? 5. What do you love about gymnastics/dislike about gymnastics? 6. Tell us about YOU! Feel free to add any info that I didn't include. I am not good at making up quizzes.

1. 2 kids, girls, 15 next month and 12.

2. Dd1 - Did rec from ages 3-7, took a two year break, came back at 0 and started training lvl 4. Dd2 - started at 4, so 8 years now

3. Dd1 is a lvl 8; dd2 is a lvl 7

4. Of course I work. This sport ain't cheap! I'm an English intructor (you can tell by the use of the work "ain't"). My dh is a minister. His schedule is flexible, so he picks up after school and takes the kids to the gym. I pick-up after practice. He misses lots of meets because he has to work Sundays.

5. Gymnastics has kept the kids busy and fit. It's shown them how to work hard. Way back when, I told dd1 she could do team for a year because she was clearly the least skilled girl they invited (after her 2 year break), and I thought it would teach her to lose gracefully. That is the one lesson she hasn't yet learned. Instead, she saw she was one of the weakest on the team and just decided to outwork everybody. My dd2 is a really high energy kid. If she wasn't at the gym wearing herself out, she'd be driving us all nuts. (Man, next year could be ugly.)

What don't I like about gymnastics? The expense. The way it bangs up a kid's body. I fear dd1's knees will always give her trouble. The way that, once in the upper levels, there really isn't time for much else. We parents often say its our kids who choose the gym, but I wonder. Have they ever been able to seriously pursue something else to the point where they can make a real choice?

6. About me? Well, I'm pretty practical and not terribly serious about most things.

[ndswam]

1. How many kids do you have? How old? What grade?
I have 2 daughters, oldest is 12 and in 7th grade. Youngest is 7 and in 1st grade

2. How many years has your child(ren) been in gymnastics?
Both girls started gymnastics in the pre-school programs. Oldest has been competing since the 2nd grade through our YMCA. Both girls are also dancers.

3. What level is your gymnast(s)?
Oldest is finishing up her level 6 season and hopes to move up to level 7. She competes YMCA and USAG.

Youngest is a Level 2 Rec, and is very involved in Karate.

4. Do you work? How do you juggle your job/gymnastics if so?
I am a Research Assistant for my husband's business - I also do his bookkeeping and maintain his web site. Working from home lets me to juggle the activities and maintain our family life without losing my mind (too much).

5. What do you love about gymnastics/dislike about gymnastics?
I love the confidence my daughter has built up from competing and the discipline she is learned (she's also a dancer, plays the cello and is a straight A student).

We are fortunate that we have a great team program with really no politics to speak of. Our team family is great! We all share the joys and heartbreaks of each gymnast. At this point no dislikes, except maybe the cost.

6. Tell us about YOU! 43, married, we live in upstate NY, I'm president of our gymnastics parent organization, belong to a book club. We just bought a camper and I can't wait to camp this summer!

[medic3188]

where are you in upstate ny? we lived there for 16 years

[ndswam]

Hi medic3188 - we live near Lake George, north of Albany. Where did you live?

[medic3188]

we lived in binghamton

[gymmomntc2e6]

Quote:
Originally Posted by ndswam Hi medic3188 - we live near Lake George, north of Albany. Where did you live?

I have been there several times, my college roommates family had a home on an island on the lake - it is BEAUTIFUL

[ndswam]

We love it up here. Lots to do. Snow isn't too bad, although this winter was bad.

[mygirlflipz]

Okay, here goes...I am still trying to figure this all out...

1. How many kids do you have? How old? What grade?
I have 9 year old twins...one daughter and one son. They are in 4th grade.

2. How many years has your child(ren) been in gymnastics?
They both started in the mom and tot classes when they were two so that would be 7 years. My daughter has stayed with it and has been competing since she was 6 years old. My son loves tumbling and has taken it on and off depending on his other sports.

3. What level is your gymnast(s)?
This is a tough one for me. She competed level 7 last year in the US and after the season we moved to Japan. Everything is different here and they train a lot different from how she trained in the US. She is probably a 9 on beam, 8 on floor and 7/8 on bars and vault. She usually competes Class I here because it is by age and she competed P5 in a meet in Canada last month (but her A's were lower than average on everything but beam).

4. Do you work? How do you juggle your job/gymnastics if so?
I used to work in marketing/competitive intelligence for a Fortune 500 company, but now I am a stay at home mom. My daughter trains 6 days a week and the gym is almost an hour from the house. After I factor in my son's activities, I don't have time for much else.

5. What do you love about gymnastics/dislike about gymnastics?
I love the confidence that it has instilled in my daughter. She feels great about what she does. It has also helped to make her an excellent time manager which is great for all aspects of her life. It is also very fun to watch!

6. Tell us about YOU!
I am 39 years old..oh my!!! I enjoy shopping (which I can't do too much of since everything and everybody in Tokyo is so tiny). I am originally from Texas (Gig 'em Aggies) but moved here from Virginia. I love traveling and adventure but I can't wait to spend a few weeks this summer back in my own house in Virginia!