So Puma Jr apparently had been struggling with her tucks out of nowhere, and HC decided to scratch her on floor. She held it together at the gym (she found out Wednesday and meet was Saturday) but the ride home and bedtime was awful. She was devastated. Hysterical. My heart broke for her, though I was appreciative for her coaches and knew they were making the right call. She wasn't taking correction well. She proclaimed in the heat of anger that she would not compete at all if she couldn't do all four. I took a deep breath and told her that it was her call, but it was not a decision that would be made while upset, that she would go and support her teammates no matter what, and that it was a terrible idea and all the reasons why. She pulled it together for school and practice Thursday (ok Thursday ride home/bedtime was rough too, but better) and Friday, and I think she was clinging to the hope they'd give in. Friday night before bed she once more (though calmly this time) said it was all or nothing. I repeated the reasons, but told her again that she would have to make that decision. So on Saturday I literally did not know what she was going to do until she presented to the judges for her first event. I had to fight tears. I was so proud of her. She got up on that beam and had her best routine of the season. Then she swallowed her pride and smiled while stepping onto the floor to scratch and cheered her teammates on after. She also had her best vault and bars of the season. Again, the scores were nothing to write home about, all in the 8s, and still no medals (so close on bars! 6th and they placed out to 5) but they were the best she's done all season and with the circumstances (and she sprained her finger badly and could barely do bars for 2 weeks) I couldn't be prouder. Hopefully this is a great lesson for her. I feel so lucky to have coaches that care about her and are open with me. The next meet is in two weeks and I'm hoping she'll kill it! 
