This One's for Audrey

Audrey is our youngest son and daughter in law's middle child. It is a position in life Jeremy (our middle child) and I (middle child in my sibling group) understand all too well. She has decided to participate as a member of a traveling tumbling team. She participates in competitions and is scored against others in her age and experience group. I've sat at too many events where parents and grandparents have pushed their young person way to hard. When they are done competing all the talk is about what they could or should have done different or better. There are a few things we want her to know. The important things she needs to understand about her competitions.

1. Have fun.
2. Do your best. Whatever that is on that day.
3. We love you.

When the competition is over we want her to hear from us.

1. Did you have fun?
2. We are proud of you.
3. We love you.

Competitions can be about getting medals and trophies. As her grandparents we don't really care about those things. We want Audrey to have fun. We want her to do the best she can. We want her to know how proud we are of her no matter what place she gets. At the beginning of the day we love her and at the end of the day we love her. We don't go to the competitions to watch her win, or to see her get a medal or a trophy. We go because we LOVE to watch her play.

So, Audrey, go play. Be the best tumbler you can be that day. Have FUN. The important thing to remember is that we (Nana, Papa, Mom and Dad) love you and we love to watch you do something you enjoy.