It's startling for me really, the amount of giddy pride I had bringing Miss Monkey to her first gymnastics exhibition. As I noticed this swell of emotion I also noticed how I relaxed and stretched into the feeling of pride for my girl. How much fun I had watching her proudly display her strength with her team-mates! It was too too funny when she finally spied her friends that came, Miss Monkey tried to wave to them mid-trick on the bar she was so excited.
At the meet we attended over the summer there were many photo-rabid parents hustling each other for the best spot, snapping gig upon gig of photos for their team. Gratefully this was only an exhibition---I have time before I will really need a swami DSLR Nikon to use for these events (flashes are forbidden and besides the chalk dust in the air makes it near impossible to use one anyway).
The event was in order such that her intensive invitational pre-competitive team was second to last to show, right before the elites that compete seriously. The strength of these six little girls was obvious, even to a novice eye such as mine. I could see a real difference between the Rising Tigers' strength and the rec[reational] levels that supposedly rank higher competitively. After 6 months of conditioning and strength, these two great coaches had the girls doing their first real tricks within two weeks preparing for the Mile High Salute to the Armed Forces Exhibition. The girls got brand new custom leotards for the event, and I happily configured the Firstborn's hair into a cute creation with enough hairspray to sleep in and hold over Sunday afternoon. Back in the day, she would ask me if she could "make my hair" then spend a long while combing and affixing various clips to my head. Finally she can sit still long enough for me to do some serious learning about this "making of hair." Who'd've thought, really, that I would ever have to crash course up-do's for competitive sports?
I look forward to more of this parenting adventure, and I gain confidence in our job of parenting thus far---I feel we're doing pretty well!
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| Got her hair did |
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| affixing ribbons tomfoolery |
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| hooray for coaches! |
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| sister cuties |
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| salute! |
Thank you TIGAR!
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