It’s still technically summer, but it feels like Fall. With lessons/activities in full swing again, it is back to routine time.
My 4 year old daughter started going to gymnastics at the same club where I trained as a girl. I had mixed feelings; my own experiences there had been good and bad. Good, in that much of my childhood was dedicated to being the best I could be at the sport I loved and this place is dedicated to excelling. Bad, in that it was so focused on competition, that it was hard on a young girl’s developing sense of self.
My daughter had her mind set on going where her cousin goes and where mommy went. She’s in the recreational program so it is still supposed to be about fun. After the first day, she said it was much harder than where she used to go. I considered pulling her out. I want to protect her but I also want her to have the opportunity to challenge herself. I can’t let my experiences stop her from having her own experiences.
My daughter is not me. She’s so much like me that I have to remind myself of that. She is her own person and I can guide her and listen to her, but I need to be very careful to not stop her from trying something just because something was not entirely positive for me. This is not easy. She was a part of me, literally. But she’s not a baby anymore (😢) and it’s about finding the balance between helping her learn how to make the right decisions when appropriate and stepping in to make the decisions for her when necessary.
Perspectively Yours 