Yearly Meltdown Time

I hope this only happens once a year. Jillian hesitated on her BHS BHS on beam and the coach got very upset about it and suddenly everything spiraled out of control. Out of nowhere came the "I don't know if I can coach her anymore" from the coach......the "I don't know if I want to go back" from the child, and "I don't think I can do this anymore" from me!

Luckily, my instinct took over and I told dear child she was going to do what her coach asked of her because this coach would not ask it if child was not ready and able. And now I can happily report that she has , in one week, progressed to nailing her BHS series on high beam 5-10 times per night. Once she did it the first time she said it wasn't even scary!

I hope to have a video to add soon so you can see how it looks.

Other new skills include a gorgeous clear hip to handstand on bars. When she practices her Level 8 routines she does two pirourettes and FIVE clear hips in each routine. WOW! Also, she was able to move her layout full onto the floor with no mat just today. And as fate would have it, just today her growth plates in her knees began to hurt. Osgood Slaters
affects most gymnasts at some point. Now I just learned that it can hurt for a little while, or for years.....we are hoping for a short visit from the Osgoods.

Seriously, if we were to wrap her knee, she would have a knee brace, an ankle brace, and a wrist guard on. Someone who didn't understand the reason for these ailments might consider reporting us as unfit parents. But she isn't "injured" so much as we are trying to prevent injuries". The next few years will be challenging, but they say that if a gymnast can get to 14 or 15, she will come out stronger than ever. Jillian is only 11, but she has alot of fight in her.