22 February 2010

Gymnastics + Piper = Happy
The 'TEAM'
We started Piper in gymnastics when she was three. She took to it like a fish takes to water...she LOVED it. As time passed she worked her way through the different levels until last year when she was invited to join the 'team'. At this point, it's not competitive, it's purely about gaining the skills needed to compete later on should she decide to follow that path, and in the interim it is giving her some great skills. Her love of the sport however is not the motivator for us...sure, it's great to see your child enjoy and excel at a sport but for us it is SO MUCH MORE...you see, Piper needs gymnastics as much as that afore mentioned fish needs H2O. NEEDS? I hear you say...surely not, I mean no child 'needs' a sport...which is probably quite true, but for Piper, this is her 'release' her 'happy place' her 'safety zone'.
It's that 'need' that motivates me to go without in order to make sure she can continue with this as long as possible. Gymnastics gives Piper more than we could ever have hoped for, it gives her...peace.
When you have a child who struggles with some of the emotional turmoil associated with adoption (RAD, PTSD, SPD) you hope and pray you can find something that 'helps', something that will take just a little bit of the madness and insanity away from daily life, for us, it's gymnastics.

9 comments:

Patricia said...

Stunning photo of Piper! She is growing up so beautifully!! No more baby, that's for sure! Love the team photo too - look at her sassy lil' self ;) !

Ahhhh...we must chat, my friend, we are going through some "stuff" right now...

Robin said...

super cute!! Glad to hear she is still enjoying it!

DiJo said...

That girl looks like she was born to be an accomplished gymnast!!! I have no doubt she will be competing at a high level with tenacity and grace one day!!!!

~Diana

Casey said...

What a little cutie...

Who doesn't need a good release in life? So glad she found hers!

Michele said...

I'm glad she loves it so. Obviously she was born to it.

Sue said...

wonderful pictures of Piper...Monika is in precompetitive gymnastics. We also talked about pulling her out to help with adoption expenses..but was told she "need" to be in it....she needs to release her energy....I agree with you

Yoli said...

Those are beautiful pictures. No one knows what it is like and you are right, when you find that outlet, you have to work to keep it. She beams in those photos, you can tell she is very proud.

kitchu said...

just LOOK at her. god i feel like a gushing and very proud auntie.

i am so glad you guys are making the sacrifices for her, to keep her in gymnastics. i am so glad it helps her. i hope you will continue to find solutions and help...

JMCS said...

I can't believe how much Piper has grown. She is such a beautiful little girl and what a joy that she loves her gymnastics so much.

You are doing a great job with things Hayley and most importantly Piper knows that she has a mama and daddy who will always protect her and always be there for her. I really hope things become easier for Piper.