Moving On Up

 

The week before I had Alysse, the girls had evaluations at gymnastics.  The passed back the evals the week after I had Alysse and the girls didn't go that week, or any other time in December.  They finally started going back last week and finally got their evals back today.  Addy did great and she actually knows some of the things that the coaches marked that she didn't know.  That's because Addy goofs around 90% of the time.  She doesn't take it very serious and bounces around in lala land.  When the coach watches her it seems like she doesn't know anything, but as soon as the coach turns, she does it perfect.  It's frustrating for me, not only b/c we pay $65 a month for her to go, but b/c I know she is better than the effort she puts forth.  I don't say much to her about it though, b/c she is FOUR years old in a kinder thru first grade class.  IF she was in the class with the rest of her age group, she'd fit right in with all the other kids, but doing much easier things.  Sometimes I treat Addy like she's Avery's age, but she's not and I have to remind myself of that.  Addy acts like a 4 year old so hopefully when she starts kinder she will mature a little and take the class a little more serious.  For now she is having fun and loves going so I am not going to ruin that for her.  Her time will come when she will need to buckle down and take it serious.

Avery, on the other hand is in buckle down mode.  Like Addy, she is young for her group.  She is in first grade but her class is for 2nd grade and up.  Avery, however, listens VERY well and does exactly what her coaches tell her.  For that reason, Avery will keep moving up.  She can keep up with the older girls b/c she is mature in that aspect for her age.  Avery is in the advanced group which is the highest she can go before she gets into the competitive team. 

Addy didn't move up to Comets, although I am pretty sure she will move up next eval time.  She just needs to pay attention a little more and do her best during eval time.  It's best that she didn't move up.   Comets is the highest of the kinder classes so she has some time before she can move out of that class too.  I think Addy has a lot of potential and could be REALLY good.  She just doesn't take it serious enough to make herself better. 

Avery DID move up - to Nova.  Out of 600 kids at the gym, only 60 girls are in Nova.  That's 10%.  So we are really proud of Avery.  I think it will be REALLY good for her confidence and her shyness.  When I told her they competed she got really nervous.  It isn't competitions like real gym meets.  It's exhibitions and intramural type meets to show parents their routines.  When I told her about it, she got a scared look on her face and said "I don't want to go to the Olympics one day!  Too many people will be watching."  Addy replied "I want to go to the Olympics!!! I WANT all those peope watching me!"  It's so funny how different they are, but I love that about them.  Avery felt better when I told her that it was nothing like the Olympics and how it's just routines they show the parents. I think she is really excited now.  It's going to take her a while to learn the routines and get up to speed with the rest of the girls, but I think she will do fine.  And maybe this will give her enough confidence to compete for real.... and she might end up loving it.  For now she's having fun and that's all that matters.