Level 5 Saturday Morning, Great Job Megan!

For some time I have watched little Megan Jackson struggle through every skill, desperately trying to keep up.  She's got the perfect gymnast body, but has had so many challenges to overcome in her short life.  She and I are in the same club, this is what I told her when she told me her Mom had died and I knew how she felt. She only knows me as "Emily's Mother".  Which is funny, I remember calling Jimmy Daly's mother "Jimmy Daly's Mother", kind of sing songy, like Megan does now to me. But it's usually when she's getting off the bus from school into the gym...  "Emily's Mother... can you braid my hair?"  :-)  I am going to miss that... Laura, you're doing the braiding now and she looks beautiful!

Meet after meet, my heart would go out to Megan, her disappointments on not earning enough points to make it to State, not getting a "real" medal, just a "participation" medal... To see her cry into Dad's shoulder because she just couldn't reach her goal, and then I'd look at my kid who wins everything in sight, and cries when she doesn't get a "real" medal in all events... and want to stomp her guts for being so insensitive... well today was a Mastercard Moment for all.

Not only did Megan get a "real" medal in every event, she podiumed with a 2nd place win on Beam and placed 6th All Around in the Junior A Division!  The look on her face was in fact "priceless"!  The look on Dad's face was a Kodak moment, but for me, the best was when she ran up to jump into the arms of her "new" mom, Laura.

This was good for Emily too.  She was so proud of her friend Megan.  She also finally realized how much the medals really mean when you work so hard and they're just out of your grasp...

Today was a good day.  Megan's hard work finally paid off.  She got her chance to shine.  She's such a beautiful little thing and I thank God that I have been privileged to bear witness to her success today. 

Emily goes tomorrow.  I pray she keeps her cool.

Happy Thanksgiving Emmy Mae!

Thanksgiving 2011.  I give thanks for all of my blessings today.

Emily has been taking a few private lessons with her coach Svetlana Stabourova.  Emily would like to try to improve her Bars and Vault technique before the State Level 5 Championships in two weeks.

There was a coaching change at TIGAR mid-year.  Her old bar and vault coach Yevgen, left TIGAR due to issues unrelated to gymnastics. Losing Yevgen was a shock to Emily's mindset. She really misses him.   Mac Whitely started coaching the Level 5 girls in May and Emily has not been won over to Mac's coaching style and it shows in her vault and bar scores. 

I sit back and wonder if I am doing the right thing by Emily every day that I take her to the gym.  She loves gymnastics, she's got the perfectionist attitude.  She wants to win.  It's really all that's on her mind. I don't know much about this sport, but I do know what works for my child, and Svetlana knows how to get Emily past her difficulties where Mac doesn't seem to be having an impact.  One of the parents at the gym, who has a daughter that's not doing very well this season, stated to me that "not one child from this gym will ever make it to the Olympics or use these skills anywhere else".  I beg to differ.  I refuse to believe that statement.  I believe that there are at least 7 girls at this gym that have the drive and potential to get to the Elite level with the right coaching, as long as they don't mentally flame out or suffer a major injury.

I really feel that the discipline and drive to succeed instilled in this sport, can only benefit my child throughout her life.  When I was young I showed horses.  That was my passion as a kid.  It was alot of work and dedication.  It served me later in life and gave me the self-motivation and drive I needed to be able to survive this life on my own.  I don't want my girls to have the mindset that their husbands will take care of them financially - life doesn't always work out like that and you  have to survive somehow - will my girls have that ability?

I believe that all 7 of the girls mentioned before will be successful in their own right in whatever they choose to do because of the values of hard work instilled in them now, with gymnastics competition.  If Emily wasn't doing well and her school work was suffering, I don't know if I would continue to support her in this sport - but this kid's test scores are 1% of the nation academically. I am not bragging but stating a fact that this one's a freaking genius when it comes to school and it's very time consuming for the teachers to keep her challenged.  Gymnastics seems to only compliment Emily's day and make her much easier to deal with.  When there's a break in her routine, she becomes a little tyrant. I am still working on that one, not sure how to temper that without breaking the spirit in the process.

As a parent, this isn't my first rodeo - but... I still question every decision that I make with Emily. I questioned every move I made with Annie and every move I made with Kathleen.  Anne's 25 now, graduated from College and in a successful marketing career and engaged to be married next June.  I want to believe that I instilled self-confidence in my girls by supporting them in their efforts. 

With Annie's theatre and singing though, there was a point when I sat down and gave her a reality check. In our heart-to-heart I pointed out that less than 1 percent of the population would ever be famous for their acting or singing talent.  I told her she needed skills to survive this life and that she should pursue a passion that would allow her success in this life,  I was lucky.  Annie is a pretty smart cookie and understood clearly what I was saying.  She chose technical journalism.  Annie is a fabulous writer.  I am glad she chose that route. She also still pursues her passion, in community theatre, but it isn't a main source of income.

With Kathleen (19)  I tried to instill the importance of her pursuing her own passion and not allowing others push her into a direction of their choosing.  There's been alot of parental interference with Kathleen's dad.  If I say white, he'll accuse me of saying black.  It's been a difficult road with Kathleen due to parental polarization and alot of negative energy that I can finally put behind me since she's turned 19.  Kathleen seems to be doing just fine now that she's her own person and can make alot of her own choices. Her dad still tries to control her, but she's 50% me too, so I have faith my headstrong nature resides in her.  Kat's still a bit unsure of what she wants to pursue as a career.   I will continue to support her emotionally as much as she will allow.

With Emily... well this is a difficult one.  In my heart I want to believe that this child is the one in 1%.  She's as smart as a whip, and determined to win it all.  If anybody can do it, I truly believe that this one will never stop reaching for her goals.   Emily is much more work emotionally than either Annie or Kathleen.  She's a handful and a half.  I never know if I am actually getting through to her.  She's got both Kevin and my headstrongness.  She's got her dad's charm and she has his same ability to get under your skin as he did. You'll either love her or she'll drive you nuts. 

I just pray she stays healthy in mind and body and doesn't get beat down by what life can throw at you.  I pray I can financially figure out how to get this kid to her goal as long as she's willing to continue the dedication of working at it every day.  I pray that she performs well at the Level 5 Championships and I pray that I am making the right choices by this child. I pray that she goes into this State Meet with the confidence and ability to grab her brass ring.  I am not willing to have a pessimistic attitude when it comes to Emily's future.  I believe this child has what it takes in this sport.  I will continue on this track with Emily and pray for her continued successes.  Annie, Kathleen and Emily are my legacy upon this earth and they have always made me proud.  I love my girls and thank God every day that he allowed me to guide these three beautiful young ladies through the first part of their life journey.  I just hope they don't hold it against me when they pick my nursing home!

Xtreme Aerials, three weeks before Level 5 State Championships

Tonight we attended the Xtreme Aerials Fall Classic in Lafayette.  Emily placed 6th all-around in her division which did not please her.  She wants all 9's for Level 5.  I've been told by other moms that she's doing really well, but she's not happy.  She wants to be the best, and is not happy with her record in this Level 5 season.  I think she's done really well - she doesn't.  I'll be reporting in during State.


So here's Emily's scores since the start of this season, there's only one more event - that's the State Championships on December 10th-11th.  They are scheduling the girls in different flights based on their highest meet all around score.  Emily's highest all-around score for this season is 36.1 at the TIGAR Cartwheel Carnival.

9-18-11 Aerials Fall Festival, Colorado Springs.
Vault 8.45 (6th),  Bars 8.05 (5th), Beam 8.95(2nd), Floor 9.0 (2nd) All Around (3rd)  34.45

10-01-11 TIGAR Cartwheel Carnival, Wheat Ridge
Vault 8.75 (7th), Bars 8.6 (8th), Beam 9.4 (1st), Floor 9.35 (1st) All Around (2nd)  36.1

10-15-11 JUDGE'S CUP  (This was disastrous - Emily was coming back from a wrist sprain and basically only conditioned up to this point)
Vault 7.75 43rd),  Bars 8.4 (27th),  Beam 6.7 (she fell three times) (66th), Floor 8.875 (22nd)  All Around 31.725 (57th)  This meet was a reality check for Emily. She now realizes that she can't take 10 days off resting an injury and then jump into a meet head first with virtually no practice.

11-12-11 MILE-HI Salute, TIGAR, Wheat Ridge (this was supposed to have been a Savage Meet)
Vault 8.5 (5th),  Bars 7.95 (?),  Beam 9.15 (1st),  Floor 9.4 (1st),  All Around (2nd Place) 35.0

11-20-11 XAG Fall Classic, Lafayette
Vault  8.65 (13th),  Bars 8.4 (2nd),  Beam  9.425 (2nd),  Floor 9.475 (1st),  All Around (6th Place) 35.95

Merry Christmas! Another fee is due.

Medal display rack, courtesy my sister Jean.

Yes, sometimes you look at the situation and grit your teeth so as not get too frustrated.  Two days ago I went to the front desk of my daughter's gym and asked "Am I paid up for all of the upcoming meets, or should I anticipate any other fees?"  My answer was "No, you're good."  I took that as yes, I was finally on top of things...   NOT!!!!

No sooner did I rest, thinking I was able to go out and purchase Christmas gifts.... then last night I received an email.... "$115.00 in additional fees for the Coach's transportation to the (out of State meet)  are due before January 1st."

Well, ain't that just a wake up call!   This is a new gymnastics studio.  I understand that they are still in a learning curve, but...  I can't be the only parent in this situation - there is no way on earth that I'm going to be able to come up with that amount in such a short time without sacrificing either food or utilities...  so I wrote the gym back, begging for mercy, and a payment plan.

 So far this month I've forked out:

$190.00 for Level 4 training tuition    -  went to Gym
$110.00 for the State Meet this weekend for Coaches fees   - paid thru Gym
$125.00 for private lessons - paid directly to Coach
$ 30.00  for State Championship wearables - paid through Gym  (didn't HAVE to do this.. but then my daughter would feel left out...)
$   5.00 my fee to get into the State Championships to watch my daughter's performance.
(watching my daughter compete... absolutely priceless!)

and it's only the 9th of the month...

In all fairness, I doubt seriously that the Gym owner is making a huge profit, most of the money goes to paying the staff, facility costs and overhead expense.

It does appear that the Coaches live a lot better than we do - but then again these people live at the gym and rarely spend quality time with their own families and I know my daughter's coach has a child  a little younger than my daughter's age. Every weekend during the competition season (which is usually 9 months out of the year) the coaches give all of their time either in  private lessons, or teaching a class or attending a meet with their team.

What Svetlana's done for Emily is worth far more to me than the money I am spending... The ADHD/Asperger's meds ran over $200 a month and Emily was slowly becoming dependent on synthetic mood altering preparations.  It's an expensive sport, but... my daughter's behavioral issues are all but gone at this point and there's no need for medication.  We have three more exhibition meets after the State Championship! I just hope my pocketbook will hold out.

There seems to be no help for the weary.  Well, God willing,  I can continue to have her in this sport, as she has already proven that she's a contender, I know that sooner or later she'll get sponsorships and some of the financial weight will come off of me, but until then I keep my fingers crossed and pray for a way to keep this all together. Wish me luck!