Stay at gym or leave?

[laurameer]

I stay at the gym for practices. My dd is only just 6, so I try not to have to leave her there alone unless I need to run an errand. Besides, I love watching. I never did gymnastics, so that is how I learn what she's doing. I wouldn't have a clue what a ROBHS or a front hip circle was if I never watched. I definitely try to let the coaches coach, but this way I can offer a few suggestions when she's working on skills at home. She loves having me watch and it gives us a bond to be there together. I'm sure the day will come when her practices are too long for me to be there the whole time, but for now 2 hrs 3x a week is manageable.

Our gym is very supportive of parents watching. The coach tries to at least say hi at the end of practice and keeps us up on what's going on with the kids. This was a big factor in our deciding to keep M there for her L4 year. The other gym didn't involve the parents at all, I never even met the coach. DD was just another face among many. I love the personal touch and care that she gets at this gym. Her coach even spent about an hour on the phone with me recently. The competitive team is just starting out this year, but DD is happy and doing great so hopefully we'll be able to grow along with the program at least for the first couple seasons.

[AZGymParent]

My daughter's coaches have never had a problem with parents watching workouts so long as they were not trying to coach from the sidelines as we have seen with a very few number of parents over the years. I understand the coaches getting upset with these parents as they are not only not helping their child, but are distracting the other gymnasts. Over the 14 years we have been involved in the sport with our daughter, we used to watch her when she was younger. As she moved up the optional ladder we watched less and less, mainly because the workouts got much longer. As she reached level 10, especially after she got her driver's license (also known as Gym Parent Independence Day) we hardly ever watched and had pretty much had our fill of being around the gym unless we had to be for booster functions, etc. However, we never missed a meet and now look forward to going to her college meets. if a coach has a problem with you asking questions about your child's training or welfare, find a new gym. Every gym and every coach can be replaced, despite what they might otherwise have you believe. After all, they work for us, not the other way around.

[gym law mom]

Our new gym has pretty much the same policy as the old. Team parents can watch, but they prefer we come toward the end of practice or on Fridays. Reason for this is limited seating and since the rec kids are usually there only once a week, their parents have priority on the seating.

At this point with 18 hours of practice/week, I don't have the time to sit there anyway and watching strength over and over gets to be like watching paint dry.

[GymnastRaeRae87]

My parents stay for all practices. Well they try anyway. Sometimes they will have a lot of paperwork or have to go to a meeting for my school. But otherwise they come and support me. I like having them there because it makes me feel good. I like to know they like watching me progress. My gym likes parents staying. They viewing area is nice and the parents have a nice view of the whole gym. There is even a little play room for other siblings that aren't in classes. My gym is awesome!!

[Vintage Gymnast]

We are not allowed to view more than 2 hours of practice per week (team level). My daughter goes 8 hours a week right now and we live 40 mins from gym so I have permission to stay longer if I want to. Usually I stay around 2-4 hrs per week, I love to watch :-) (But I do get "bleacher butt" if I sit too long LOL)

[gymmommy1022]

At our current gym, we are about 45 minutes from home, so I stay on the nights that I drive carpool. My dd practices 5 days/wk, about 15 hrs./wk. I drive 2-4 times/wk. At our old gym which was only 6 minutes from home, I stayed most of the time also. I enjoy watching my dd and love to be there for a new skill, or when she improves a skill. Our gym has a very nice viewing area which is upstairs overlooking the whole gym. Rec and team parents alike share the area, no preference given to either. It is basically first come, first served. The coaches and owner don't really care one way or another whether we are up there, but I certainly get the feeling they don't like parents who try to coach from the viewing area. Some parents will even run down to their gymnast when they come out for a break, just to coach them about one thing or another. Most of the time, I try not to catch my dd's eye while she's practicing, I act like I'm busy talking to another parent. She likes having me there, as long as I don't give any negative feedback on her progress. Only positive feedback!

[gymnomore]

I would leave since I always felt like the coaches didn't want to be watched. My DD did not know the difference as she was busy working. I would have liked to watch more, but didn't want to be considered a helecopter mom (always hovering). I went home and did laundry or whatever needed to be done and came back, usually a little early to check in and see how things were going. Several times I was GLAD I came in early to see some problems that I doubt my DD would have told me about. Most of the time she was happy and smiling, which was a good sign. When gas reached up above $3.00 a gallon, I stayed and brought work with me. Now that we aren't in the gym anymore, I wish I would have stayed much more. I think practices were fun to watch. I would give anything now to watch my daughter do one more routine.

[krazykidzmom]

Generally, when my dd wants me to watch a certain event I will come watch. I feel like it is her deal and I want to honor that. Also, it is easy to get too involved if you watch every day, sometimes it seems like they are not making any progress. This summer, with my other kids older, I have watched more than I ever have. When school starts, I won't be there very much. It also scares me to watch sometimes Oh, she is 10 and goes about 20-25 hours a week.

[Gymcrazzzy]

JBS, whil agree with you, its only to a certain extent. As a rec, or low level class, i would agree. but for serious gymnastics i thihnk its better parent free. less distractions. more work done. Think of romania (not quite as far, but you get it).

[gymmomntc2e6]

I have been a gym parent of 2 (daughter just turned 7, son 10) for about a year and a half.

I always stay. My daughter is level 3, w/ some level 4 skills. She is there days a week for a total of 4 hours, one of them being dance. My son is there twice a week for a total of 2 and a half hours. Luckily one of the days overlaps.

I stay for many reasons - one, I'm a little lazy and w/ gas prices don't feel like driving back and forth - the area is somewhat rural so shopping is pretty much out. Two, anyone can get hurt - even under the best supervision, I want to be there if something happens. Three - it means a lot to my kids to be there to watch and see them progress, to give them a 'high 5' when they come out for a water break.

Our coaches and the owner give quite a bit of feedback. Some parents stay, some leave. more of the team parents leave as they are there longer etc.

I even stayed most days during their week long summer camp. Mine only did half day, but I worked from the gym - brought my laptop etc.

I understand why people cannot always stay, but I think if you stay whenever you can it really gives the kids a boost - they feel they are important to you.

We had a mom who did not stay often - and would comment on how her child 'must not be into it today' whenever she did stay and the girl sat on the floor refusing to do anything and crying - the rest of us were thinking 'today?' this was a child who obviously did not want to be there and the mom either had no clue or did not care.