Her first Rhythmic gymnastics classifications

After going for practices once a week for this one whole year, she was finally graded for all she had learnt. It was held by the teacher's (which was roped in by the school) club, to find their best gymnast to compete in the next level of rhythmic gymnastics between clubs.

For all my concerns, I just wanted to expose her to it and probably know where she stands after what she had learnt so far. After all, we have assessments all our lives, haven't we?

Never had I thought, it was so much more than that! There were rehearsals for the grading, it was a full day, I had to send her over early in the morning, I had to put make up for her, her hair should be all tied up in a bun, and we had to be there at the end of the program to receive the cert on stage. Oh wow! It was all so overwhelming.

What surprised me more was the enthusiasm shown by the girls' mothers at the event, all came fully prepared in full force to support their child, with the whole range of make up boxes, make up remover and ornaments, leotards, what have you!

I felt so out of place! I just hurriedly put on some simple make up for her and off we went to the event, without lugging anything along! And I think meimei also felt under-dressed! She looked so forward to own one of those beautiful leotards too, but what the shiats! It costs a bomb! A new one fetches a price for RM500+ but there were second hand ones which could probably be half the price. I had to avoid lingering around the table that lays the stuffs for sale in exorbitant prices, but in the end, gave in to a hairband for the bun at RM20!!! darn!

Seriously, it seems to me, it was getting a little bit out of hand. Initially when she was asked to join the team, I had thought, why not, since it's free and she could learn to cartwheel and somersault. But now, she told me she wants to do really well, she wants to shine, she wants to take part in competitions. (so she could don on the leotard) I think it's scary!

But am I crazy? Shouldn't we be aiming for the stars? Isn't it an honor to excel in something so beautiful? I think all the gymnasts really did so beautifully well on the carpet. They put on their best foot forward, but how much the parents are pushing them to go beyond their limits, I have no idea.

Anyway, I only hope my little girl does not pressure herself too much. She did a great job in achieving a merit score of 6.85/10, to me it indeed is. I was beaming with pride though the rest scored way better than she did.