Ava started her team gymnastics last week. It's Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:30-7. In other words a huge change from her previous class which was one hour a week. She was a pro at her old class, hence her needing to move to another. Last Tuesday, her first class, she cried and came home after the first hour (daddy was the one staying with her who caved and let her come home). Thursday she was excited to go, but cried a couple times during class and came out with 20 minutes to go and said she was ready to go home. I encouraged her to stay the last 20 minutes and she did. Fast forward to this week... she came out after only 30 minutes in class and was ready to go home. She says it's "too advanced". I try and try to get her to stay but she was literally not willing to go in and if I even tried to move her in the direction of the gym she would push against me and start wailing.
Kevin came in at that time (whew) and he tried to talk to her. Needless to say we ended up telling her that if she couldn't go back out there that she was done with gymnastics... she couldn't come back on thursday if she couldn't go back in and had only done warm-up. Ava said she wanted to quit forever and not go back in.
Kevin and I are frustrated as heck at this point, and a bit po'd too I'll admit. Kevin talked to Ava when we got home and got more info out of her. She said she doesn't like having to be "prim and proper" and doing the "fancy walk". Basically she doesn't like the fact that the teams have to walk toe-to-heel and have to do all their stuff the correct way... legs together, knees straight, toes pointed, etc. In recreational gymnastics they're not as focused on that and focus instead on just learning the skill, regardless of whether your legs are straight or not.
Ugh. I guess we're going to move her to the recreational Level 2 class instead of the team Level 2. I don't think she's cut out for it, at least not right now. The gym owners adn her coach, of course, think we should push Ava through this and make her get over whatever fears she has. I understand that to a point, but I'm not about to make my just-turned-six girl and drag her kicking and screaming to the gym floor. I'm not out for Ava to be a college gymnast... she's only in kindergarten!
I guess that's the mentality that I'll probably never have. I was shocked last week to overhear a couple of moms talking about the practice beams and mats they have at home so their child (in kindergarten or first grade) can practice everyday. I think that's crazy. I want Ava to experience more than just gymnastics. I had reservations from the get-go about the team class since 3 hours a week is alot, but I went with it since so many people seem to do it with no problems.
Maybe it's just me, but I want Ava to have lots of freetime... playdates with friends are just as important to me right now and a physical activity. I'm sure some people will think I'm insane for knocking Ava back to recreational gym, but it's what feels right to me. I guess I'm just not "competitive".
Anyway, I think I'm going to make her take the rest of the week off. But next Wednesday I'll have her try out the recreational class. I hope she likes it and I hope none of the coaches make her feel bad about it. (Her team coach is a former team-Poland gymnast so she can be a little tough... tougher than Ava is used to being treated).
PICC Time
5 months ago
5 comments:
For what it's worth, I think you made the right decision. Extra-curriculars are supposed to be fun. If you're dragging her against her will, what's the point?
Amy, you made the right choice...for you, for Ava and your family. Will quit soccer last year since I knew it just wasn't worth the hassle. I was in diving at a kid and was terrified of the 3metre board, my parents kept pushing me and I was miserable. They finally let me quit and it was such a relief to everyone involved.
I think that sounds like a good decision, Amy. To each his own, but pushing a kid THAT hard, at this age, to be competative just doens't sound like a fun way to grow up. There is a fine line between pushing and teaching them to stick something through to the end - sounds like you are balancing it well! Good luck!
Amy, when Ava finds EXACTLY what she truly loves, being "prim and proper" are the things you'll catch her practicing on her own. She will push herself in whatever facility and at home to be better. Regardless, you and Kevin made the right choice for her and worked with her to come to that conclusion and the "working with her" part was most important. She should enjoy her activites and not dread them.
Amy - I totally think you did the right thing. Too many parents push their kids into doing things like competative sports and end up making the sport stressful for the child instead of enjoyable. Let Eva do the gymnastics class that she enjoys. You can always try the competative class agin in a few months. She is still very young. fwiw, a friend of mine has a daughter who only started competative a year ago when she was 8. This year shortly after her 9th birthday she went into her first provincial competition and placed 5th overall.
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