Sunday, August 10, 2008

I can’t watch womens gymnastics

I don’t know what the deal is. I get too emotional watching women’s gymastics in the Olympics. I never had this problem before. It’s because my daughter is 6 years old and I’m a father now. I just get too wrapped up in how young these girls are to be handling the pressure and representing their country. It’s just too much. When they make mistakes I feel too much for the girls, then their parents and I don’t know how the parents can console them at this level. Way too much pressure for early teenagers... and to think how intense their training has been since they were probably about 3! Something wrong with that.

2 comments:

DVJ Mama said...

JB, I totally agree with you. I think that these young girls *believe* that they really want it, but they don't know what they're getting themselves into. The pressure becomes too intense, and in my opinion the cost is too high. They are still children, after all. Most adults could not cope with that level of pressure and/or celebrity (e.g. Britney), yet we expect 16 year-old girls to do it. It also bothers me to see them make mistakes and try so hard to hold it together in front of teammates and cameras. I just want to hug them. :(

Unknown said...

Hi JB, For the US girls & boys I don't get emotional because I feel they have worked for and planned for this all their life. They can handle the pressure. They have great support for their parents, family and friends. The team I get emotional for are the ones in countries like China, Romania, or Russia. Those kids were pulled from their families and have the pressure of doing good for the respect and honor of their countries. Although the US kids are playing for the US, I don't get the impression that they feel that the honor and respect for US is on their shoulders.

But I can understand you're current feelings, because thinking of your little girl being in front of the whole world and getting hurt or messing up is a bad feeling