Ripped!!!

Maggie got her first rip on Monday. In gymnastics, this is inevitable. Rips are painful, yet the first one is important to a gymnast. Everyone at the gym makes a big deal out of it. It is a rite of passage. You are one of us now. That doesn't mean everyone is happy that you are in pain, it is what it is and you have reached a point where you are serious. You ask yourself if what you are doing to your body is worth it. Do you love the sport enough to endure pain for the joy it brings you. Maggie said yes.

At any point, if she wants to change sports, it is okay with us. I do not enjoy seeing her push her body to exhaustion by holding a chin up on a bar till she falls off just to build upper body strength. I live in fear of her first major injury. Gymnastics is dangerous and physically taxing. That crazy child loves it!

Look at the smile on her face as she shows it off to the camera!
BTW...she's not the only one.

I found Maggie's kindred spirit as I was doing research on minimizing Maggie's soreness and first aid for rips. I don't know those people and haven't read anything else from their blog. I did find some really good info though. For those who are curious about rips, go here and here.

Also, if you just don't get why... here.