B
bribri514
as most people here know, i was born profoundly deaf in both ears. my mom is a sign language interpret an now is a specal/deaf ed coordinator so i grew up signing. i've had hearing aids a couple times but they don't do a whole lot. i can't lip read and i can't talk (well i've been in speech therapy and can say some things, but i choose not to, it's just awkward and embarassing and i get made fun of).
anyway i've also been doing gym since i was 3, so pretty much since i was born. i made the TOPs national team, qualified for JO nationals, was invited to train elite, etc. (not to brag, just saying that i've really worked hard to be a success gymnast).
but i keep coming across coaches and parents and other girls who think i shouldn't be doing gym. when i was younger some of the girls made a big joke out of immitating me doing routines and skills. they apparently would make the same noises i do and slap their hands across their chest and stagger around and call me retarded.
my first year of high school i did school gym but the coach and some of the older girls didn't want me on their team (i was the only level 10 on the tem and coming off qualifying for nationals which i guess intimidate the lder girls but i didn't know that.) anyway the coach wouldn't work with me, she said i needed 8/to go do special olympics. my mom filed a complaint and she got fired but i still ended up quitting the team at the end of the season.
my club team is usually really great. there's always the occasional parent (mostly of the younger girls) who willl come up and try to talk really loud and slow and say how it's so nice that i can be handicapped and still do well.
that's what made me write this. today at practice my coach was out sick so one of the new coaches was working with the 9/10 group. i was warming up and doing drills with my team and everything was fine until she tried to get my attention. one of the girls explained to her i'm deaf and she got all flustered and the rest of the practice adjusted the way she interact with me. she was slow and over exagerating everything. every skill i worked on she clapped and gave a big thumbs up, even ones that i know i messed up on. i've been having problems with the side switch, sheep jump part of my routine and have been using a wolf jump instead, but want to work my way back up for state. she told me to just keep the wolf jump it's a good skill that i do good, like i was a little kid and she didn't want me to try anything too hard. i got mad and started trying to show off to her by trying to throw big skills that i can't really do (like my full in full out that needs a lot of work)...
any advice about how to deal with it better
practice was just frustrating. i don't want to dwell on it, i've spent my whole life dealing with it and ignoring it and just working as hard as i can. it's part of why i like gym, i usually don't have to deal with that stff,
thanks for listening (lol). i've also just been in a gym a ton lately 25 hours a week plus meets so that's probably adding to frustration.
<3
anyway i've also been doing gym since i was 3, so pretty much since i was born. i made the TOPs national team, qualified for JO nationals, was invited to train elite, etc. (not to brag, just saying that i've really worked hard to be a success gymnast).
but i keep coming across coaches and parents and other girls who think i shouldn't be doing gym. when i was younger some of the girls made a big joke out of immitating me doing routines and skills. they apparently would make the same noises i do and slap their hands across their chest and stagger around and call me retarded.
my first year of high school i did school gym but the coach and some of the older girls didn't want me on their team (i was the only level 10 on the tem and coming off qualifying for nationals which i guess intimidate the lder girls but i didn't know that.) anyway the coach wouldn't work with me, she said i needed 8/to go do special olympics. my mom filed a complaint and she got fired but i still ended up quitting the team at the end of the season.
my club team is usually really great. there's always the occasional parent (mostly of the younger girls) who willl come up and try to talk really loud and slow and say how it's so nice that i can be handicapped and still do well.
that's what made me write this. today at practice my coach was out sick so one of the new coaches was working with the 9/10 group. i was warming up and doing drills with my team and everything was fine until she tried to get my attention. one of the girls explained to her i'm deaf and she got all flustered and the rest of the practice adjusted the way she interact with me. she was slow and over exagerating everything. every skill i worked on she clapped and gave a big thumbs up, even ones that i know i messed up on. i've been having problems with the side switch, sheep jump part of my routine and have been using a wolf jump instead, but want to work my way back up for state. she told me to just keep the wolf jump it's a good skill that i do good, like i was a little kid and she didn't want me to try anything too hard. i got mad and started trying to show off to her by trying to throw big skills that i can't really do (like my full in full out that needs a lot of work)...
any advice about how to deal with it better
practice was just frustrating. i don't want to dwell on it, i've spent my whole life dealing with it and ignoring it and just working as hard as i can. it's part of why i like gym, i usually don't have to deal with that stff,
thanks for listening (lol). i've also just been in a gym a ton lately 25 hours a week plus meets so that's probably adding to frustration.
<3