Update from CGC: My Son Is Enjoying Gymnastics Again

After writing about the gymnastics session that went so badly, I wanted to come back and tell you what happened next. Because the difficult part deserved to be talked about, but so does the way people responded.

A note about names: I am not naming individual coaches in this update. The coaches I am talking about know who they are. I am sorry I cannot thank each of you publicly by name, but I did not ask permission to identify you, so I have left your names out. The gratitude is still absolutely yours.

Following that day, I spoke one-to-one with a couple of coaches, the head coach and even one of my son’s former coaches. They were all so supportive. The team at Cornwall Gymnastics Club came together to help him, and he has since started having an amazing time at CGC again.

One of his previous coaches specifically made time to help a new coach get properly acquainted with him and understand what works for him. That meant a lot. We had already spent time figuring out how to make gymnastics manageable and enjoyable for my son. Having someone help carry that understanding across to a new coach was exactly the kind of support we needed.

Even some of the other parents who read the article have asked how he is doing. It is really lovely to see people pay attention and then check in. These situations have the potential to go either way, and I have to hand it to everyone involved: I am so glad this one went in the direction it did. It shows what our diverse community is capable of, and I am genuinely glad to be part of it.

Of course, my son still needs the occasional reinforcement. Today, he refused to do anything. So I reminded him that his task was to complete the checklist on his map so he could earn his new 2 × 2 Rubik’s Cube, which had just been delivered. Worked like a charm. Now he is with his group, running around. Apparently, today the motivation came in cube form.

Not every session is suddenly effortless. He still needs his map, his checklist and adults who understand how to support him. But he is enjoying himself again, and that is what I had been hoping for.

A special shoutout to the coaches, who are so young and yet have shown so much responsibility and care. Thank you to the head coach, his former coach, the new coaches getting to know him, and the parents who asked about him. You all helped turn a difficult experience into something much better.

My son is back to having a good time at gymnastics. Thank you for helping him get there.