Parents WOW..........I thought I was crazy.

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onelittledream

Proud Parent
So it is not really a secret that I am excitable. My DD is doing very well her first year of gym. The fact that she constantly asks me to "look into" this or that being a new gymmie herself. The great relationship we have built with her main coach and the owner's of the club. All has been so great, but I always felt that I was standing on the fence of being a Crazy Gym Mom (CGM) which apparently is a really really bad thing in some circles.

THEN this evening I went to prepay for January's tuition and as I walked into the office saw a mother of one of the new Recreation gymnasts having a very animated and heated conversation with one of the coaches. Apparently she was having a "fit" over being at the gym for three lessons (yes that is 1,2,3) and is VERY upset that her DD has not yet been taught how to do a back handspring!!!............ WHAAAAA???? I backed out of the office slowly and will go and pay January tuition tomorrow after I drop for open gym.

I post this only because I am SO relieved that I can say that I sometimes have to catch myself in the CGM pasture (I am disabled and have to be careful about living through my child-yes I know, very bad)........but though I admittedly climb into CGM territory I have never had to have the owner called to come to the gym and escort me out as this woman did. I guess a lot of us have tendencies but never really think about it till we are looking at a situation much like a mirror. Just a story I wanted to share is all.
 
I think many people have a really skewed view of gymnastics. Kids will often ask my ds to teach them how to do a standing backflip (and some parents will ask him to teach their kids).....you need a real coach for that! And lots and lots of hours of training...

What they see on TV is the elite level, and they may not realize quite how much time and talent it takes to get there. After all, most kids can kick a soccer ball/throw a basketball/swim across a pool after a certain age or amount of time in those sports, but not many kids ever learn a back handspring on a beam.

Maybe that mom just needs to stick around a while and see that nobody does a back handspring after 3 classes :D And decide whether or not she wants to pay for the more realistic amount :rolleyes:
 
...After all, most kids can kick a soccer ball/throw a basketball/swim across a pool after a certain age or amount of time in those sports, but not many kids ever learn a back handspring on a

I heard exactly this concept from a college coach on why gymnastics is so intriguing for other athletes. No matter how skilled and athletic they might be in their sport, they know they can't just go out there and perform gym skills.
 
We all could cross over into CGM territory from time to time. The key is to realize that it is happening and to step back for a bit. Most people can do this - that woman probably not.
 
So it is not really a secret that I am excitable. My DD is doing very well her first year of gym. The fact that she constantly asks me to "look into" this or that being a new gymmie herself. The great relationship we have built with her main coach and the owner's of the club. All has been so great, but I always felt that I was standing on the fence of being a Crazy Gym Mom (CGM) which apparently is a really really bad thing in some circles.

THEN this evening I went to prepay for January's tuition and as I walked into the office saw a mother of one of the new Recreation gymnasts having a very animated and heated conversation with one of the coaches. Apparently she was having a "fit" over being at the gym for three lessons (yes that is 1,2,3) and is VERY upset that her DD has not yet been taught how to do a back handspring!!!............ WHAAAAA???? I backed out of the office slowly and will go and pay January tuition tomorrow after I drop for open gym.

I post this only because I am SO relieved that I can say that I sometimes have to catch myself in the CGM pasture (I am disabled and have to be careful about living through my child-yes I know, very bad)........but though I admittedly climb into CGM territory I have never had to have the owner called to come to the gym and escort me out as this woman did. I guess a lot of us have tendencies but never really think about it till we are looking at a situation much like a mirror. Just a story I wanted to share is all.

ok. that's not CGM. it's something else and can't be posted here. :)
 
What they see on TV is the elite level, and they may not realize quite how much time and talent it takes to get there. After all, most kids can kick a soccer ball/throw a basketball/swim across a pool after a certain age or amount of time in those sports, but not many kids ever learn a back handspring on a beam.
Kicking a soccer ball is the analogue of an ugly cartwheel. While many can "kick" a ball, they can't hit a person on the chest or forehead from 30 yards.

The big divide between gymnastics and the other sports is mostly in the risk. In the other sports, keep trying until you get better/more accurate. It's not like you can just throw backflips until you get it (unless you have a pool or trampoline and are willing to take some injury risk).
 

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