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Does anyone else have a child who competes at a high level in a sport? I'd like a general moaning thread!!

63 replies

isthisanacidtest · 21/07/2014 20:20

Like today. She was supposed to be tidying up and hoovering but disappeared off to train all day and hasn't come home yet.

She is dedicated. I'm very proud of her. But ....

the early starts

the mountains of food

the constant kit to wash

the running here there and everywhere

the whole family getting put on hold to the god of sport

Sometimes it just gets a bit depressing and hard work. For me, not her! She loves it Grin

OP posts:
YellowStripe · 23/07/2014 07:55

Ah no, Midlands here, Uggmum.

sixlive · 22/07/2014 21:52

The kit, worrying if they have eaten enough/right stuff stuff, worrying if they will get injured/end up in a&e, watching them compete is so nerve wracking, trying to balance school/sport/other interests. A lot of worrying and expense but quite a few proud moments.

uggmum · 22/07/2014 21:01

You never know Yellowstripe. We are in Yorkshire.

Maryz · 22/07/2014 18:47

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YellowStripe · 22/07/2014 18:30

Ooo Uggmum - there's a tumbler starting at the school where I work, in September .... wonder if it's your DS?!

Bowlersarm · 22/07/2014 18:25

Much more expensive for a start, Eve, I'd imagine.

Eve · 22/07/2014 18:08

Try adding horses into the mix!'

isthisanacidtest · 22/07/2014 18:03

And sometimes DD does training in the morning before school for the school team, training after school for the school team which runs on into training for the junior squad then ladies training. She gets home at half ten at night.

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isthisanacidtest · 22/07/2014 18:01

DD went for a run today. Then her mate phoned and they gathered up a few of them to make enough and decided to have an impromptu training session.

I suppose she could be doing worse.

So there is more kit to wash. I have soda crystals and vinegar.

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uggmum · 22/07/2014 17:01

My ds is a tumbler. He trains really hard. Lots of running to warm up and conditioning.

4 sessions a week from 3-4 hours each session. It is intensive. Luckily I only have a 20-25 minute drive each way.

He competes and is currently British Champion at his age and level. He is 11.

I am concerned about the transition to secondary school as there will be more homework and a longer school day. He obtained some good SATS results this year. But secondary school is more intensive.

Maryz · 22/07/2014 16:55

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Bowlersarm · 22/07/2014 16:50

It's the nerves with me.

DS is in a highly competitive sport, well I suppose they all are by definition, and is always being watched, judged, compared. It's great when his confidence is high, but if he's low on confidence or injured, there are so many boys lining up to take his place. Very stressful.

Great when it's all going well though.

Maryz · 22/07/2014 16:44

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Maryz · 22/07/2014 16:42

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turdfairynomore · 22/07/2014 16:40

Nice work!! Be proud! My DD used to run for NI and it's great to watch events on TV and say "you used to run with her"!! Commonwealths will have lots of her old training mates and sparring partners!! She gave it up at 17 to concentrate on hockey. Can't say I miss cleaning the cross country gear!!!

500smiles · 22/07/2014 14:30

Being vague as don't want to out myself like I usually do, but DD does a form of national dancing better known, and derided for it's OTT pageanty look, when actually it is amazingly physically demanding.

It's never going to lead to fame and fortune, but she was on the podium at the British Champs this year so she's not too shabby at it for an under 11.

lecherrs · 22/07/2014 08:22

Yes, although DD is at a decent level, she's not at Olympic standard.

DD1 (10) trains 18 hours a week and DD2 (7) trains 6. Different types of gymnastics, so they train different days of the week. Whilst DD2 is likely to go further, that's because she does rhythmic and that is less popular than artistic (DD1) so I think it's easier to make it to the top when there are not so many competitors vying for the same goal.

Even so, I'm there 7 days a week, including every weekend morning, for anything up to four hours at a time. It totally dominates our lives, and DD1 will never become an Olympic gymnast (although her current aim is to become a coach and judge, and that is achievable).

The things I find hardest is when friends organise get togethers and we can never go, because we're always at gym, constantly having to think in the morning when I leave for work at 8am what am I going to give the girls for tea, and taking it with me so I can microwave their food during the day (we batch cook, then reheat main meals), their constantly eating tea in the car (they eat in the car x5 days a week), and the constant shelling out of money. On top of gym, DD1 also does a very little bit of competition dancing. We keep that very low key, but if I'm not paying out for gym, it's for dancing! Then there's the competitions - getting up at ridiculous o'clock to take her to a comp on a Sunday morning. Thankfully DD1's comps are usually within a 3 hour radius, but I understand that DD2s comps will be anywhere in the country.

Of course, I am incredibly proud of my daughters and they can do some amazing tricks, but if I had known what I was really signing up for when I let her join the little development class at 5, I think I would run a mile Grin.

nowitscleanugobshite · 22/07/2014 08:20

Can I join too please? It's hockey in our house-DD and DS. And it's soooo hard to be in two places at once esp when stbxh is always "busy" when it comes to giving lifts!! And too tight when it comes to helping buy the ridiculously priced gear! The amount of travelling is unreal esp for DS who plays school/club/province at his age level. And they both can have 4 training sessions/3 matches per week. Thankfully DD drives now so occasionally she can help out!!

Ragwort · 22/07/2014 07:54

Yes, my DS plays sport at county level (no not future Olympic standard Grin) - it does take up a huge amount of time and effort but for us the benefits outweigh the disadvantages.

We just have the one child so don't have to fit his training/matches etc around other children so that is a real bonus. Also DH tends to do most of the transporting etc which suits him (and me Grin).

Kit is expensive but is always Christmas/birthday presents from us and generous grandparents so that solves the dilema of what to buy a teenage boy as a present!

I am so much happier that he is out and about playing sport rather than his other 'hobby' which is playstation games Grin.

It can be occasionally useful as a genuine excuse to get out of boring invitations/commitments at weekends !!!

Win win Smile

isthisanacidtest · 22/07/2014 07:47

I forgot the point of my coming on to moan!

She came home from training last night with information about yet another competition which is a whole weekend 3 hours away. Matches on the Saturday and the Sunday, first match on the Saturday 9am so they will have to go down on the Friday night. And she won't be home until late on Sunday.

There's three of us from this general area who can share lifts, but we are all spread around about an hours area, so even if she gets a lift I have to drive a minimum of 20 minutes away to pick her up.

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isthisanacidtest · 22/07/2014 07:44

DD is a niche sport. She is representing at national level in a team. But she's just about to turn 16 and plays all the "normal" sports at school/county level as well - ie running, 100 200 400m, high jump, long jump, triple jump, hockey, netball, cross country running. She dropped tennis because she couldn't fit it all in Hmm

Neither me nor her dad are athletic at all - her dad turns out on a sunday for the local cricket club but that's really it.

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Misfitless · 21/07/2014 23:16

What sports do everyone else's DCs do?

And are we talking any potential future Olympians? Where's the nosy cow emoticon?

Well done to all you parents, it must be tough...but when they've all got gold medals / won Wibledon / The Masters / Badminton / The Tour de France / dancing equivalent accolades..and they're mentioning you in their speeches, it'll all be worth it!

I'm never going to moan when I have to drag DDs up the road to watch DS play football on a Sunday in the rain ever again!

KatyMac · 21/07/2014 22:57

For DD it's dance - it used to be Ballroom & Latin competitions now it's Ballet, Tap, Contemporary, Jazz, African, Salsa and Ballroom & Latin Hmm but next year should be easier for us....if not DD

nonicknameseemsavailable · 21/07/2014 22:11

I am intrigued what sports they all do now.

BitchyVstheUFOs · 21/07/2014 20:50

Table spoonish is normally enough. If it is vary fragile a slightly larger amount of bicarb of soda works - (half a tub in a bath tub for when I have time to destink ds' kit and get it dry)

500 forgetting what daylight looks like in the winter.

knowing rules to things that you never thought you needed to know

Being roped into roles at the club to help out which means you lose more of your time if you had any.

Knowing that as ds is not yet in high school you have years of this to come

Tears when they don't do as well as they expect and don't come home with a trophy