Child in elite sport... Aibu to let her miss training for bday party

[Homeontherangeuk]

My child is an elite athlete & we're on holiday this week... She's just been invited to an outdoor bday party... Usually I'd say you have training but given the past year I'm inclined to say fuck it & let her go... But we're also away this weekend so she's missing two trainings but making all her weeklys...

What does your child want to do? If she wants to go to the party then let her.

What @Flowerlane said.

Personally i think her mental health is more important than elite sport.

I got the invite at 9 & dd was in bed... I know she would love to go especially given how much she has missed out on... However they are training for a big comp (individual sport, no team to let down)

Up to your child. I was a very very competitive swimmer at that age, I would have chosen the training. Looking back I soul have taken the invite. Difficult one.

You know she would love to go so let her. She is 9 she has years ahead to train, let her be a child, one couple of hours party is not going to hurt.

Party

Sorry thought daughter was 9 not you received invite at 9 need to go to bed. Anyone I still say let her go.

😂 She's 8 not too far off! I know usually we would say we're paying through the nose for training, part of parcel of being chosen etc... But she's worked incredibly hard over zoom etc I think she deserves to go to the party considering she's missed out so much socially... But this is elite sport & missing out is part & parcel of being chosen as a future GB olympian...we're missing training this week as we're away in Scotland so I feel if she missed next Sat also it would be seriously frowned upon....

How old is she?

Couldn’t she go to the party for an hour or an hour and a half then to training? If we’re talking about gymnastics and she actually genuinely had any chance at the Olympics I am willing to bet her sessions are a minimum of 4 hours long at the weekends.

No she won't be able to make both due to the distances.. We had looked into that option..

At 8 do you really want that pressure on her? Is she genuinely going to get in Olympic squad. How many children burn out before then if they have that pressure on them at 8?

head says training, heart says party.

would there be any chance for her to do any training while on holiday? no idea what her sport is, I'm thinking if she swim she could probably do some on her own, if it's ice skating maybe you could find a rink etc?
so ok, not proper training but something at least.
(not asking to reveal her sport, I'm actually guessing you've probably thought of that already)

@ineedaholidaynow

At 8 do you really want that pressure on her? Is she genuinely going to get in Olympic squad. How many children burn out before then if they have that pressure on them at 8?

🙄

I hope OP totally ignores your post

She’s 8. With the last 15 months or so we have had, how many parties, fun normal childhood stuff has she been able to do?

Ask her

I’d let her go to the birthday party.
Elite sport can be isolating in itself.

I can’t believe you think AIBU would be helpful here. Just make a decision!

@Jangle33

I can’t believe you think AIBU would be helpful here. Just make a decision!

^^ this

She’s 8, let her be 8 and make the decision herself. If she starts to feel forced to train and miss out on things to do so then she is much more likely to rebel against it when she gets older

Only me who's slightly uncomfortable at the idea of 8yo elite athletes?

Party for me but then I probably wouldn't have let her join the programme, sending listen to me

Party! She's only 8. Plenty of time before she will be in a position to qualify for the Olympics. Call it a rest day- might even benefit her (certainly mentally)

It’s gymnastics isn’t it.

The pressure on the kids at that age is crackers. Let her be a kid for the weekend.

I know for athletes to reach their full potential they need to start early, but it makes me really sad that they are expected to miss out on just being a kid for it. Is it really worth it? They will never get their childhood back and it is supposed to be a carefree, fun time. Hours of training and missing out on fun social events doesn't sound like a great childhood tbh.

Is she training for something with selection/competitions soon or later in the year? If the former I'd be inclined to go to training.

Is the party child a really good friend or is it likely to be an amazing party or "just" a normal party with someone she's friendly with but not best friends?

Will missing two weeks be looked on unfavourably or very badly?