That Surprising All-aroumd!

Jr. Jungle Challenge

3rd/Last Competition for WAG Level 2 Age 9yo +

It's been an interesting journey, as our little gymnast faced this WAG Level 2 stage of her gymnastic life. The first competion, Chinese New Year Challenge (Home), was gut-wrenching --as it's our first time for this level. The second competition, Milton's Springer Challenge, was a confirmation of her skill set. And the third competition, Jr. Jungle Challenge, was a test of her strength and weaknesses. These are her Level 2 scores for all three competitions.

This competitive world is a revelation to Khloe, and even to us, her parents. It's a totally different environment from the PreComp last year. All these kids are still young to feel the pressure and the tension of competing, yet, it's already there. It's in the air, no matter how much the parents would deny it. And it's still surreal for me and my husband, as we are still in this oblivion that we are still in here for Khloe's joy. 

But still, reality bites. The other parents could actually drag you into this competitive mode. Then,  you find yourself checking out the real-time scores online. Then, you find yourself holding your breath everytime they start the dismount. Then, you check out the standing online. Then, you get scared of that 9.800 because somebody could still do better. Then, somebody beat that score and you lost hope on the over-all. Then your athelete screwed up on the bars. Fell off on the beam. Screwed up on the floor. Messed up on the vault. And finally... you started adding up the scores. And realized -- she hit that 37.000 + threshold again!! And you prayed Thank You. For her safety. For her good scores.

This has been the story of our lives the past few months since competition started. We came into this journey all blind. No expectations. No clue of what Khloe can do. Then, she pulled out all these medals since Day1. Gold. Silver. Bronze. She even had a certificate for Most Confident on Beam. At first.. we thought it's just a one-time achievement. But she pulled another sets of medals for the next competition. And another set of medals for her last competition. And what she can't believe is garnering that Gold/First Place medal for All-around on her last competition. It was her best triumph for this year. She was pretty proud of herself. 

All-around is  a huge deal. We realized that towards the end. The score kind of define your skill set, of where you are on all of these 4 events. It made Khloe realized that consistency is needed from her. That she has to stay on her game on every event, and try her best everytime. And she proved herself once more, that she can do it, even if that means not being first place on any/if not most or all of the events

This journey has taught Khloe a lot. She grew up so much, not just as an athlete, but as a girl who is determined to stay on the top of her game. This is notwithstanding the other activities she's into: acro, ballet & Math Club Classes; and consistent straight A's on her report card. Her gymnastics strength balances out the sensetive Khloe that she is, emotional, tearful & soft-hearted. 

It's a humbling experience for her and for us. Whether or not she'll continue,  is all up to her. But one thing is for sure, there's no pot of gold at the end of her rainbow, if she cannot weather the storm, first and foremost.

Little Bestfriends

Khloe is one lucky girl who is surrounded with awesome friends.
She is comfortable playing with the boys, and hanging out with girls. She is friends to almost everyone, and appreciates each of them as individual. She doesn't pick one, nor fight with another.
She treasures her friends, just as how much she treasures her family.

But being lucky does not mean she gets spared of the daily harshness of these little graders' world. Of course, there is that bullying issue, the "where-i-belong" drama, and the "i-don't-wanna-play-with-you!" moments. Khloe is just like the other kids, she went through some of those moments. Howerver, she does not go home from school thinking about it and feeling sorry for herself. Most of the time, she forgot to tell me. Just goes to show how little of an issue it is for her to deal with. This doesn't mean she thinks less of bullying. She is just one strong girl, and knows how to deal with it her herself.

Strength in mind and heart.
Khloe is raised to deal with issues in school, by herself first before excalating it to us, her parents. Despite her weak demeanor, we tried to raise her to never let anybody deprive her of her rights and her choices. She may be a cry baby, but she is one strong girl. Hence, as much as she treasures her friends very much, she can actually put them on their places if they push her to a corner.
She knows her rights and her wrongs, and will gladly let you know yours as well. Say that one time her friends made her choose between the new girl (who is getting bullied) and them (whose been her friends since) -- Khloe chose the new girl. Why? Because she grew knowing it is her Christian duty to protect the weak. And she's been doing this eversince. That is one thing that we are very proud of her.

Friends are forever no matter what.
The only thing that breaks Khloe's heart is when her friends separate from her. As Khloe choses to protect the weak, she befriends most of them and connects with them sincerely. However, these kids do not stay long in the area. They have to leave, much to Khloe's dismay. But that does not stop her from making beautiful memories with them. In their own little way, these girls collect moments, share ideas and spend as much time as they could have -- knowing fully well that they will separate soon.

Tears are proof that you loved!
Khloe will cry again and again everytime she misses these girls.
My heart breaks watching her go through this everytime. But I am proud of her. I am proud of the kind of girl that she becomes. She might be broken for a bit, but the memories with them makes her a better girl. A better friend. A stronger friend.

Friends until the end.
A bestfriend is what Khloe is to her bestfriends. They are the ones who are always there, even if Khloe is too busy with her activities. They are always there even if Khloe cannot spend as much time with them. They are always there to understand her, to protect her when she needs protecting, and play with her when their mood sets in. This is the friendship that Khloe is so proud to have, be that with the girls or the boys, around her. She loves her friends and she treasures them sincerely


Photo credit:
https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/480688960199202771/

An Athlete's Mom

I am writing this as a poignant reflection of the recent bus crash carrying  #HumboldtBroncos Jr. Hockey Team, taking away 10 athlete's lives, their coach and 4 others. Our family may not be a hockey family, but we are in deep mourning of this tragedy. We are, first and foremost, a Canadian Family in part, an Athlete's Family and a family who loves hockey. We are sending our sincere condolences to all the bereaved family and friends. As a mom, I am sending all my spiritual strength to all the bereaved moms who are going through this loss.

I can't imagine the pain, the deep sorrow, the anguish of these athletes' moms, or of all the moms who went through a loss like this. Or of ANY mom who went through a loss of a child.

As a mom of a competitive gymnast for more than a year now, I still have trepidation everytime Khloe goes to train for gymnastics, or competes on a bar or the beam events. Same trepidation I felt when I saw that victorious smile on her face when she tried an assisted cartwheel at 3y.o. on her first gymnastics class. And I think most, if not all, moms can attest to this, that there will always be THAT feeling, be the child an athlete or not. Maybe, just a different level of trepidation for an athlete's mom.

For those travelling athletes,  whose parents cannot come with them all the time, that waiting-period of parents for their athletes to be home is always heart-pounding. A game's WIN is nothing compared to that heart-warming embrace a child can give to their parents. Knowing that they are home, in your arms, is the GOLD or the WINNING TROPHY  any athlete can give to their parents. And for those parents who are with their athletes during training or competition: the simple fact of bringing their athletes home, all in piece -- with no broken bones, is way, way more important than winning medals or trophies. As parents and as moms, this is our ultimate wish.

Personally, my bitter-sweet surrender for Khloe to go competitive is a journey by itself. As a mom, I was so torn on whether or not to sign her. The invitation for her to join the ODP program was so fast, leaving us a whirlwind of chaotic adjustments on our schedules and individual lives. All my trepidation was set aside, to let me focus on how to organized our crazy-enough scheduled lives. UNTIL competition hit. Until I saw her swinging on the bars. Up on the beam. That rotten feeling came back again. Got worst when after a year, she levelled up to Women's Artistic Gymnastic proper. When the swinging on the bar gets harder. When the choreography on the beam gets tougher. When the scoring is not about how pretty they are doing the skills, but by how many errors and deduction they would do instead. As Khloe's mom, I hold my breath everytime she is up on the bar, or on the beam. I might be holding my camera, but my heart is pounding and hoping that she won't fall and hurt herself. I am first and foremost her mom. And I will feel this way forever.

Hence, I have very HIGH respect for those moms of every athletes who do sports that have more physical contact with others, or more dangerous than Khloe's gymnastics. I always believe that what we all feel is the same. Our fears are the same. Our hopes and wishes are the same.

We just want our child to be safe, be that on triumphs and or losses!
We will forever support what they love!
We will forever pray for their safety!
We are a parent!
We are a mom!

An Escape @ 40th

Trying something new!

It has been our goal to try something new each time we celebrate something. I, personally, do not like doing what everybody seems to do. I prefer to do things my way, the opinion of others be "you know what!". 

When I turned 40 five months ago, we celebrated by having a night cap with close friends, at this Filipino Bar with a live band playing. It's been a while since I have done this, so it was really a treat for me. I only wished the band played more Filipino songs. But who am I to complain. Live band.. booze.. good company. Enough said.

For my husbands 40th birthday this February, I decided to try something different again. A novelty is always a good thing. Escape Room!

So back then, I have a different notion when I first heard of this 2-word activity. Then, at one time, when I was at work, a colleague explain what it is this room. And it just made me curious ever since. 

Escape Room, is not an adult-only room. It's way, way, way more fun and General Admission! Escape Room is actually a Game Room. In plain words, it's like coming in a room to solve puzzles and unlock locks -- and try to get out within the time allotted (1 hour, 2 hours -- varies with every room). So here's our experience.

I signed us up into a Team vs Team game for an hour, with the Theme: Classroom. At first I was thinking of combining each team with some Gen X and some Millennials. When we got there, the combination did not happen. The Millennials decided to gang up against us, WISER Gen Xs. There were 5 of them nerds and 5 of us wise people. Hah! They really thought they're way ahead of this game. Guess what -- ? They are not. Just 2 in-locks away from us. BUT -- both teams not able to get out! The kids claimed they were 2 locks away. And because we are the humble-wise-grownups, we claimed the truth, and that we are 4 locks away. Or maybe make that 5 locks? 

Overall, it was an awesome hour of celebrating a birthday. I will not get into the details of what to expect inside -- coz that is pretty much the beauty of this game. Just do not expect anything to escape. It's worth it.. and it's an experience you wanna do again and again. 

You can book it as a 3-person game. or a Team vs Team. It is not a walk-in kind of game. Be sure to book it ahead. And just be yourself. Bring some common sense. and Do NOT overthink. 

Credits Image from: http://escaperoom.org