Sophomore Season soon to start - August 2016

Well, Emily decided to compete CARA (Colorado Association of Recreational Athletics) this summer to keep in shape for High School Gymnastics this Fall

Still plagued with knee issues, she's actually having fun with the sport.  After having to suffer with the stress of USAG competitions, finally this girl is enjoying herself.  These kids put so much on themselves.  I never wanted her to be super competitive, but it is part of her DNA.  Her dad from what I experienced, was always super competitive.

So, as I believe that putting a kid in some kind of activity is important,  it's important to find the best fit for that child.  My eldest daughter Anne had two left feet.  We tried softball, we tried ice skating, we tried dance.  No sport worked well for her.  She was always a bookworm, but I had to figure a way of getting her out in the world to experience new things.  So she learned how to act and model. To this day Anne still does community theater every chance she gets.  My middle child Kathleen was a soccer kid.  Kathleen was not flexible enough to do gymnastics but still a very active child.  You really need to allow your child to find their own interests,  believe me you can't make them do a sport just because you want them to.  My daughter Anne played the violin in Middle School, my daughter Kathleen played the Viola throughout High School.  Emily has been playing the Cello since third grade, but this year she intends to try her hand at theater and play the Cello in her second semester.

Emily still enjoys Gymnastics and bonding with her team mates.  She may never compete Gymnastics at the Olympics, but hopefully we'll get to the 2020 Olympics as spectators to cheer on Team USA!

9th Grade Junior Varsity in High School

Of course Emily couldn't wait to get back into the Gym after 3 years out.  The season is now over, but she did podium at least once - for Beam.

She feels her high school team mates do not include her as a team member and frankly I have to agree from what I've seen.

The Coach knows that Emily's strong suit is tumbling and beam yet for the entire season she competed for the most part on bars.  She performed one floor routine several times on the beam.  She actually made the podium in one meet.

Emily's skills are for the most part gone at this point, she still has her dance moves, but lost her kip, has it back, lost her twist, still working on that one and she finally got her split back... but she loves gymnastics and will continue to improve her skills at her home club for next season.  We'll see how it goes.  What's more important to me is that she does well academically and it seems that gymnastics keeps her on track in that department.

Emily is still playing the Cello, she is second chair.  Tonight at her high school the freshmen performed together for the first time ever.  I am attaching a video of their final piece which is American Landscape by Soon Hee Newbold.  In this final piece of this concert, he moved all of the instruments around so that the students would get a different perspective of the music.  In this piece Emily is in the back row,
AWHS Freshman String Orchestra

Emily is turning into quite the young lady.

Eighth grade - wow.  She's not a baby anymore.  Emily is playing the piano, the ukeleli, the cello and more.

She can draw.  Wow can this kid ever draw!

 She's got a gift.

Dancing into a new school year, Emily is now trying Hip-Hop!

Well, haven't been here for a while.  Emily started 7th grade at a new brick and mortar school.  She decided no more home school since she's not doing gymnastics so no need for home school option, and she wanted to be around kids her own age.

Emily is now trying Hip Hop one day a week and trying to keep from re-injuring the knees.  I was not able to find a good swim option for her so she played with the neighborhood kids all summer.  No stress, no pressure.  It was a good summer.

Emily has thrown in the towel on Gymnastics.

After a very long and painful battle with Osgood-Schlatter's Disease, approximately 8 months total on crutches, Emily has decided to end her gymnastics career and save what's left of her knees. This decision was not made lightly, and with much pain and tears.  Emily loves gymnastics, but sadly her body is growing too fast for her to keep going in the sport. It's a shame really, being in the gym is such a good thing for girls.

Now she'd like to pursue swimming!  So down to Sports Authority I go, credit card in hand.  New Speedo swimsuit, new goggles, gym bag.  She started out at the local swim club, only to have the building condemned within the first week of her training.  Sheesh! Back to the drawing board.

Everyone is suggesting diving for her, since she has a background in Gymnastics, but that's not what Emily wants to do.  She wants to swim laps.  Ok!  I am with her on this one.  I still picture Greg Louganis hitting his head on the springboard during competition.  OMG that was a parent's worst nightmare!  It's a wonder it didn't knock him out completely. No, I can't imagine Emily diving.  It was hard enough for me to watch her tumbling in Gymnastics. Coming back from a brain injury is no fun at all , this one I have first-hand experience with.

 So far we've not been able to get her involved in swimming, but I am still looking for a good fit. Maybe I can get her into dance if it's not too stressful on her knees.. we'll see.

Back at Gymnastika!

 After that horrendous knee injury, and over 4 months out of the gym and on crutches,  Emily's back with her friends over at Gymnastika!  I had her at Highland Hills and hoped she would want to stay there a little longer because it's not such a far drive, but the moment the doc released her, she begged to go back to Gay Lindsay's.  She loves her coach.  Even though the ortho doc hates girls in gymnastics, Emily has other ideas as to what she wants to do with herself.   Emily's  been working beam and bars and  working hard on conditioning.  It won't be long before she's back in competition form.

One month back in the gym, so far, so good

Well, Emily's been back in the gym for a full month, and still on very light duty.  She's lost her kip and desperate to get that back, she has not performed any tumbling on the floor yet and gets cleared from the doctor on December 7th.  We'll see how it goes. 

Meanwhile Emily has grown one inch, gained about 15 lbs and her shoe size has gone from a 2 to a size 4 children's, 5 ladies.  She's really growing fast, wider in the shoulders and a little taller but I fear if she doesn't grow soon, she'll be lucky if she makes it to 5 feet tall.  She takes after her Grandma June I fear.  Both her and Kerry Anne, her cousin are going to be the shrimps of the family.

Christmas is only 26 days away!  Happy holidays everyone!

Emily's finally back in the gym...

Well, starting last week Emily's been back in the gym conditioning. It's been a long time off and a long time healing from Osgood-Schlotter's Disease.  Her knee is still sore, but she couldn't wait to get back into the gym. I don't think I want her out there 5 days a week again.  She's got to use those legs her whole life.  Long after her gymnastics career.   She's still got 4 more weeks before she's cleared for full practices.  We'll see how it goes.  There's always next year.  Right now she's taking it easy at Highland Hills Gymnastics.

Gabby Douglas Wins the All Around Gold!

and her old gym whines about losing "their" champion...

Gabby's Mom owes Excaliber money
Gym owners are truly a strange breed.  With the money that they could reap from new clients, they really shot themselves in the foot with this whining.

I salute you Gabrielle Douglas not only for helping your team win Gold,  but for being the first African American woman to win the All-Around Gold at the Olympics!  Congratulations to Natalie Hawkins  (Gabby's Mom) and Gabby's siblings for making the sacrifices to help get her there.  Congratulations to Liang Chow , you are a great mentor.  Not only have Shawn Johnson and Gabby Douglas achieved their Olympic goals, but they have also been given the strength to handle themselves under the spotlight because of the confidence that you helped instill in them both.  We can't wait to see all of the champions when they come to town for the Kellogg's Tour of Gymnastics Champions - 2012

Meanwhile:

Emily has been fighting through Osgood-Schlatter's disease for most of the summer, so we've opted to take a month off of hard training as she's in far too much pain to continue her 26 hour a week regimen.  It's really close to competition season, but I'd rather she made it to adulthood without tearing out both knees.  Sorry, but it's a Mom Thing.   There will be a life after Gymnastics, and I'd like to make sure she gets there without a Handicap Placard. She'll keep up her conditioning at home and we'll re-evaluate at the end of the month.  It was hard to tell Gay at Gymnastika that we were taking a break, but I feel it's the best thing that Emily can do for herself right now, and the pain is causing her to realize that it's best to take it easy for a couple of weeks until this recent growth spurt is over with. Competition can wait awhile.  It disturbs me to see so many taped ankles, knees and wrists in this sport.

USA WINS GOLD!

USA Women's Team beats out Russia, Romania and China for the Gold!  Whoo hoo!!!!!

pic.twitter.com/SnnJ232z

2012 Olympics - Go Team USA!

Emily and I spent this morning searching for news on Team USA girls.  What a shock to find out that Jordyn Wieber did not qualify for the Individual All Around final.  More news at http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Olympics/2012/0729/Olympics-shocker-Jordyn-Wieber-US-all-around-gymnast-fails-to-qualify

Well, as Michael Phelps just discovered, 4th place is not where anyone wants to be.  My heart goes out to Jordyn, her coach and her family.  She's worked so hard, she's still the World Champion. 

We will continue to root for the ENTIRE US TEAM.  Personally I just love Ali Raisman's Floor routine and music, as for Gabby Douglas - she really can fly on the bars! It will always be a team effort and we'll be rooting for them to win gold!

Our men's favorite is John Orozco.  He's such a nice kid and has such great heart. We'll be cheering him on this evening.  Emily and I have decided that we're going to go watch the next summer Olympics in 2016.  Rio, here we come!

UPDATE ON EMILY'S STATUS
Emily's new skills are:
Kip, cast, handstand, three-in-a-row, on Uneven Bars
Front walkover, tik tok on the high beam, without a mat!
Emily's coach tells me that when she performs a twist, Emily knows exactly where her body is at all times while tumbling.  Emily's a pretty good tumbler I have to admit. The first time I saw her do a back layout, she took my breath away.  I was shocked at the air that she got. 

OK! it's the END of MAY - RUN LITTLE TIGARS!

It's time to flee the den! 

Or... your parents will have to succumb to the Carnivorous Credit Card Cruncher!  It's a scary thing to allow someone outside of your position of trust to control your household finances...  personally, I wouldn't give anyone that kind of control. 

Emily and I spent a lovely time at Washington Park this afternoon.  We went to Bonnie Brae Ice Cream Parlor and got two scoops of Pistachio in a chocolate dipped waffle cone, then went over to the park to feed the squirrels and geese.  We counted the goslings (or tried to) and I think we came up with a total of 59 new babies at the south lake.   I took some AMAZING photos of Emily with the sunset across the water. 

Secret US Classic 2012 - 5th grade continuation

Today's the day for the US Secret Classic.  Polina Shchennikova of TIGAR competed today as a Junior.  She placed 2nd on bars with a 14.4,  and finished 9th overall.  Not bad, Polina!  Here's her Uneven Bars Routine (courtesy of USA Gymnastics):



Simone Biles scored a 16.05 on the vault (Wow) and won the All Around with a score of 58.15. Here's that FABULOUS vault (courtesy of USA Gymnastics):



Polina's little sister Alyona  placed 1st on bars during the HOPES Compulsory Session at the Secret Classic. 

This evening the Senior Elite girls competed for a shot to the VISA Classic.  It was also Nastia Liukin's debut back to the sport and it was a great comeback  (courtesy of Universal Sports)



Meanwhile, Emily graduated from Elementary School on Thursday and here's the video (courtesy Aunt Jean McCawley):



Emily spent the night at her best friend Megan's house so that she could kick back and relax.  It's been alot of work in the gym lately and she really needs this break.  We're off of the gym schedule for the entire week.  I don't think I'll know what to do with myself.  I just might get my car cleaned out and my house clean for once!

While at Gymnastika yesterday, more future x-TIGARS are coming to see what Gay has to offer.  I don't know exactly what's happening over there, but obviously it was a bad business move on TIGAR's part.

Saluting all Gym Moms...

Proctor and Gamble decided to make this series of videos, to acknowledge what we as moms go through daily to support our childrens' dreams and aspirations...

I just love this line from the below video "Olympians -  they weren't born that way, they're raised that way..."




For all of those naysayers that would like to believe that what we are doing, as the mother of a dedicated child in any disclipline is living vicariously through their child...

lets not forget ...the late night hand washing of the exhibition uniforms, the waking of the athlete, preparation of the morning meal, the early morning hair braiding, stocking the snack bag with healthy food to get her through another grueling practice... the checking of the school homework... the endless daily driving... to the gym, to the school, to the gym, back to home... and before transporting to each destination, making sure to prepare a healthy "in-transit" meal, carrying their exhausted body out of the car to bed at the end of a grueling day and asking your little champion after every practice "Did you have fun today?"




So to clarify - we as mothers dedicate ourselves to our children, fear for their safety, we are there to shore them up when they feel defeated, pray to God that we have the strength to continue in their quest whatever it may be, and cry with relief and pride that we are privileged to witness their shining moments ... no matter what path we end up being dragged down by our future medalist.  As mothers we will continue to do so as long as we live and breathe. We love them and are in awe of their accomplishments, drive and dedication.

Here's a great article  The Role of the Gymnastic Parent

Here's another great article http://voices.yahoo.com/what-takes-gymnastics-parent-537025.html

Gymnastika's Spring Fling

Yesterday Gymnastika put on their Spring Fling, which is a meet for the recreational kids to show off the skills that they've learned in this past session.  Emily and her team mates got the chance to show off their stuff performing an exhibition dance routine.





The optional girls really burned up the floor performing their dance routine to Bollywood Fusion.



While at this meet, a few of us started discussing organizing a new 501(c)3 to benefit local gymnasts. I love it when a plan comes together...

It's another good day.

Today I received a call from a mom at TIGAR, apparently our ad for Emily's parade and competition Leo's from that gym was still up on the Booster Club board in the parent lounge.  

Believe me this is one good deal! 

1 blinged out custom Level 10 TIGAR Parade Leo with blk velvet shorts size 6/7 and matching scrunchy hair tie, 
1 spaghetti strap Tiger Shiny Print Parade Leo with blk velvet shorts size 6/7 and matching scrunchy hair tie,
For Competition:
a bag of custom Hair Ties (5) and hair ribbons to match
Level 4/5 Dreamlite competition Leo size 6/7 and team jacket
Black velvet warm up pants with the TIGAR paw embroidered on the waist.

AND... a TIGAR Gymnastics Team BackPack!

ENTIRE LOT  $175.00 (original price new, well over $400.00)
Moving on to Gymnastika and their gymnastics school program, PRICELESS!

While we were at TIGAR so that the new Level 4/5 could try these leos on, Beth (the owner) asked Emily if Grigory was still at Gymnastika.  Emily told her "no, he left".  Beth's answer was "I knew that was going to happen."   Beth, you really shouldn't attempt to gloat when you have no idea the circumstances of Grigory's departure. That kind of behavior does nothing to boost your likeability or credibility in this sport. You have a really nice new gym and some of the best coaches, but your Level 5,6 teams from what I recently noticed are still struggling at two of the four events. TIGAR didn't have one Level 5 All-Around last year, even though a lot of the girls did win event titles.  To get to Nationals the girls have to be good in all four disciplines. If you thought like I did about running my business, I'd be watching closer what the girls below Level 8 will achieve in the next competition season to keep abreast of the competition. I wish you well.

Gay Lindsay at Gymnastika knows this sport well,  having been a competitive gymnast herself long before opening her own gym. Her hiring and firing decisions only make me respect her even more.  She's worked wonders with my needy child and I see a vast improvement in Emily's demeanor and behavior since switching gyms.  Not only is Emily growing in her gymnastics skill set, but she's also maturing and learning good sportsmanship where she currently trains, which to me is far more important to engrain in her personality than learning how to execute a new trick.

Emily also got the chance today to see Svetlana (Stabourova) her first competitive coach, and give her a big hug, which really made Emily's day.     We also said hi to Polina and Alyona while we were there and congratulated them both on their recent successes.  Polina Shchennikova  tied for 2nd at the 2012 Nastia Liukin Cup in March and her sister Alyona Shchennikova finished 4th AA at the Hopes Qualifier at Karolyi Ranch on May 4th.  These two are having a fabulous year and we wish them many more future successes.

Meagan Groel, Emily's buddy,  is on her way down to the Karolyi Ranch this weekend.  We wish her well, safe journey and have lots of fun while you're there.

Well, 4 more days to the Gymnastika banquet and Saturday's recreational meet!  Can't wait to see the group perform!

Saturday morning practice in May

Today the girls are practicing their dance routines for the upcoming banquet this next week. We have a new coach at the gym.  Her name is Kelly and she was Emily's dance coach at TIGAR.

When Emily was at TIGAR she hated attending Kelly's class at night after practice. I think it was because there were over 25 girls in the class and it was at 7:45 at night. Now Emily couldn't be happier to learn from Kelly. This morning Emily's benefitting from actually being able to listen to Kelly without distractions. I wish she had been able to do that in the past.

With the smaller class sizes at Gymnastika Emily has really been able to improve on her skills and learn new ones.




Today I have heard that yet another girl from Emily's old gym is defecting to another local gym.  You can't win friends and influence people when your paying clients figure out that your Gym was developed for one child and one purpose only.  It's no secret that purpose does not include growing the actual business. If  that Jungle Cat continues to run at a loss I doubt seriously that the cumulative investments will continue to keep that business afloat.   Good luck with that. Tigars don't change their stripes and when they start to eat the villagers, eventually they're euthanized.


Have a great Mother's Day all!

Happy Mother's Day to YOU, the Gym Rat's Mom

Happy Mother's Day to all of my friends that I've met over the years at different Gymnastics Clubs! Thank you USA Gymnastics and Proctor and Gamble for the following  video:

 

I also believe my daughter Emily will do great things after her days of competition are behind her. 

Right now Emily is training 26 hours a week at Gymnastika, in Arvada, CO, she loves every moment and is truly dedicated to her sport.  I ask her daily if she's still up for this schedule, and the answer is always the same "I love to compete, Mom!  I want to be Elite!"  So, as long as she makes the effort, I will be there to support her, but I often remind her there's a life outside the gym, that her schoolwork  and friendships outside of the gym are just as important.

Today I finally had a little time to watch my daughter's practice.  I had not watched a practice since January as my company's busy season kept me running ragged.  When I got there, a half an hour before practice was over, my daughter and her group (Level 6's and 7's) were on the floor practicing tumbling passes.  It was Emily's turn as I watched her complete her back handspring, back layout I was shocked at how much height she was able to get in her back layout on a spring floor, not on a trampoline.  She took my breath away.  It's moments like that one that keep us, the parents inspired to continue to support our children in this sport.  Emily, labeled a problem child with Asperger's Syndrome and ADHD, now channels her frustrations in tumbling passes, switch leaps and twists.  How she amazes and inspires me...

It takes an enormous amount of commitment - both time and resources - to support your gymnast in her goal of mastering this sport with no guarantee that she will make it to collegiate level, much less Elite status, but as parents we are there for our children because we love them and want the best for them.  We'll all be there to support our children no matter what in whatever they choose as their passion.

On a side note:
As we approach a new competition season, since I've been asked by several of my friends about Booster Club rules and regs, here is a great link to all things legal regarding Booster Clubs, what the Gym can, and can not force the parent to do. My best advice to you is to educate yourself and ask for documentation of proof that there is actually a legal organization that is bound by your State's Fundraising laws.  Any legal organization's documentation should be on file with your Secretary of State's office as well.

Word to the wise:  Booster Club Board of Directors are liable for any errors and omissions of legality and should be protected by Directors and Officers insurance policy to protect them against any "errors or omissions" in Booster Club acts and/or policies.  A Board Member can be sued personally for any mistakes made by the Club.

Please click here and educate yourself prior to committing your precious resources:

  Is this Booster Club Legal?

and  please check out The truth about Individual Fundraising Accounts

May Flowers... new skills

Emily has been working on getting her Giant. Still pretty fearful, but she's almost there! She's been able to swing to handstand on the parallel bars, which Gay says takes a good chunk of the fear factor out of the equation, but still Emily's tensing up with fear when working on that skill. I just found out that my cousin Glenn Olson has been chosen as the head chef at Olympic Village for the Summer Olympics in London! I hear he's a wonderful chef. I haven't seen him in 35 years. Wow, that's a long time and we were all just kids. Thank God for Facebook. Emily was in the talent show at her Elementary School this past week and she performed a modified balance beam routine which she ALMOST crashed and burned at. She threw two tricks on a 2" mat that I had NO IDEA she decided to put in that routine. When she rehearsed her original routine, it was performed on 8" mats. I did not know until she went to perform that the mats were switched out, and by then she was in the middle of the routine. Thank God she didn't get hurt.

Level 6 competition season is only 5 months away!

Counting down the months left until she competes again, Emily is finally out of her hand splint and back at practice with a vengeance! This week Emily has been practicing her back handspring, back layout off the tramp; she's almost got her giant on bars. She still fears the height she's getting on the bars, but knowing this one, she'll work through that and have it perfected by April. She's also working on her front walk-over, front tick-tock on beam. I haven't had the chance to watch much of Emily's practices as I don't hang out at this gym, the parent area is too claustrophobic, and besides, I've got plenty of other things to do, like take care of my own business in between chauffering this little one, but I see the improvement in Emily's attitude and she's much happier now, enjoying what she's doing and hopefully not causing her coaches too much grief.

Above photo courtesy of Brian@ImagingB... This was Emily's second Level 5 vault at the State Meet this past December - she crashed into the vault the first time out. I wondered why, now I know. She knew the table wasn't set right from the get go. Emily trained with the table set at a 1 and then 2, but apparently her vault coach decided this day to set the vault table on 0 at the State Meet. That's a lousy thing to do to a kid and a picture tells a thousand words. So glad we've found a new home at a gym that will encourage my daughter to thrive in this sport and not hold her back. I keep asking Emily, "hey... you want to stop and do something else like soccer or softball?" Faaaaaggeddaboutit!!! She's a gym rat all the way.