Delano Showcase

Van het ene optreden naar het andere; deze keer van de gym.

Binnen een paar weken staat het competitieseizoen weeral voor de deur. Ze hebben de laatste maanden hard gewerkt! Zoe zit dit jaar op een hoger niveau wat wil zeggen dat ze nieuwe (en dus moeilijkere) skills moet leren. Niet alles gaat al even vlotjes en toen ik haar donderdag na de training ging ophalen waren er traantjes. Ik heb er het volste vertrouwen in dat alles wel goed komt. Normaal is zo'n showcase niet echt een big deal aangezien het gewoonlijk alleen Bram en ik zijn die gaan kijken maar gisteren waren Grace, Ryder, Cali, Ella, Ms Brea, en Tammy en Jeff er ook - de kids waren dus wel heel zenuwachtig.

Hieronder een voorproefje van hun werk (filmpje en foto's van vorig jaar hier).

 Gymnasts Salute! (de typische pose voor elke turnster op het einde van haar evenement of als ze op het podium staat)

 Ella en Elise

 Met Suezette en Eliya, de coaches

Met Ms Breanne

Gymnastics is toch een aparte sport hoor. Onlangs las ik een brief van een mama van een turnster en ik kon me direct in haar verhaal inleven.
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A few things only Gymnasts' moms understand (full article here, edited by me).

When Zoe first became interested in gymnastics (it all started with a rec class once a week on Saturday), we had no idea that it would become such a big part of our lives. Especially when Zoe moved to team and started competing...we really had no idea what we were in for.
That Elise would follow suit, just worked out nicely (at least I only had to worry about getting them both to the same activity), especially with what we know now and the amount of time a week both are spending on gymnastics (7 hours).

1. Rips and blisters - my gymnasts' hands
The first time one of them ripped the palm of their hand, they cried, were upset and avoided the bars at all cost. Now their hands look like they do manual labor, think lumber jack, for a living.  Now, they carry their rips with pride as it is a demonstration of their hard work!

2. Tears
The countless hours of practice, hours in the gym, for 5 minutes of competition. And everything depends on that one moment during competition. Every piece of the routine and how they move their body is picked apart. A deduction for the smallest thing....really, that was a great routine (in my opinion)!

3. Our house is a gym practice
There is a reason our walls are white. Every couple of months I just have to take the paint roller out to cover up the many black feet on our walls - easy breezy :)

4. They are ripped
They are strong and ripped....way more than most kids their age. Every muscle in their body is clearly defined.

5.Breathing is not allowed during competition
Really, who on earth decided that a beam should be 4 inch (10cm). As a parent, breathing is not allowed when your child is on the balance beam.
I never realized how anxious I could be until I saw them compete for the first time. As their skills are progressing and their levels become more difficult, my anxiety is getting worse. I used to be able to watch with hopeful anxiety that they would be able to control their front hip circle on the uneven bars. Now, I hold my breath with one eye closed and a hand in front of my face when they are on the beam. I'd like to think that someday it will get better but I doubt it.

6.The car is a gymnasts home away from home
Whether it's my car, or Ms Breanne's, the car is a dressing room on wheels. Our gym is about a 30 minute drive to and front. Some days they do homework, read, eat snacks, ...whatever needs to get done that day but can't be done at home because there is no time, gets done in the car.

7.It's a foreign language that I am still learning
From a baby giant, to a back handspring back tuck, to a shoot through,...I am still figuring it out.

8.It teaches them important life lessons
Very well written here.