So DD2 is old enough this year to start competing. She's done one comp, where she was placed in an under 8 age group due to small numbers, so she was dead last :lol:. Considering she was the youngest by 6 months, she still did a great job (she's just 6).
I kind of feel for her though, as all she's ever known is DD1 doing well at comps. But DD1 was much older before she even started competing- she did two rec in-house meets at 6/7, then only really competed against other clubs age 8/9.
So DD2 has two years before she gets to that level, and will likely compete "up" in age until then so probably won't podium (only top 3). We've told her competitions are fun, to learn and practice, and her coach wants her to compete WAG when she's old enough (have to be 8 here) so these F+V comps are for the experience. We've fallen into the habit of getting them a small gift (toy, dolly, dvd etc) for after the comp if they work hard in the run up (rather than results based). Gymnastics is very, very competitive in our region, and she's in a YMCA style club without full facilities, competing against high hours HPC gyms.
How to you manage if the younger sibling is less successful than the elder? Any hints or tips so they still feel successful even without placing? Am I stressing more than necessary? She always gets the choice to compete, and says she wants to. I don't know whether I'm projecting my Type A personality on to her….
I kind of feel for her though, as all she's ever known is DD1 doing well at comps. But DD1 was much older before she even started competing- she did two rec in-house meets at 6/7, then only really competed against other clubs age 8/9.
So DD2 has two years before she gets to that level, and will likely compete "up" in age until then so probably won't podium (only top 3). We've told her competitions are fun, to learn and practice, and her coach wants her to compete WAG when she's old enough (have to be 8 here) so these F+V comps are for the experience. We've fallen into the habit of getting them a small gift (toy, dolly, dvd etc) for after the comp if they work hard in the run up (rather than results based). Gymnastics is very, very competitive in our region, and she's in a YMCA style club without full facilities, competing against high hours HPC gyms.
How to you manage if the younger sibling is less successful than the elder? Any hints or tips so they still feel successful even without placing? Am I stressing more than necessary? She always gets the choice to compete, and says she wants to. I don't know whether I'm projecting my Type A personality on to her….