By Stephanie from How To Survive Life in the Suburbs and Mom of 2 very active kids.   You can also find her on Facebook & Twitter.

She didn’t want to go today.

I picked up my oldest after school and she had tears in her eyes. For about five minutes she denied anything was wrong and then, as soon as we were alone…..the floodgates opened.

She was missing the dance AGAIN because of gymnastics. Watching her girlfriends skip off arm in arm, going to each others houses to get ready for the big event…it was just too much for her to bear. Her little heart was hurting, and so was mine.

My oldest daughter is a Provincial Level Gymnast. It’s not always easy. She has had to fight her way through the occasional injury, has given up sleepovers and dances, and misses out on a tear jerking number of social events. It’s hard to make so many sacrifices all in the name of gymnastics.

This particular Friday night was a tough one. Watching her girlfriends skip off together all giggles and smiles with no concerns other then what clothes to wear, knowing the fun she was going to miss. Preparing because in the next 30 minutes she had to cram dinner down her throat, change, get her hair up and be in the car with a smile on her face. Four hours of gymnastics in her future.

This little athlete spends a minimum of 12 hours a week in the gym, not to mention the total of three hours of driving time. We get caught up on all our news in the car, she does homework in the car and two times a week she even has to eat in the car. Dedicated. Oh yes. Easy, oh no. She is kind of my hero….she works harder in one session of gymnastics then I do all week long.

As her Mama I do everything I can to support her as she chases her dream. Not only do I play paparazzi ( you just know this baby adores me taking about 100 pictures at every competition), but I also do my best to make sure she gets everything else she needs, emotionally and physically as she goes through her busy life. I prepare her healthy meals “to go” on those busy gym days. A big part of keeping her healthy is making sure she gets her IronKids vitamins. Those Omega 3s, Calcium, and Vitamin Ds have become an important part of our routine.

I’m happy to report we made it through that sad Friday night. As I always try to do, I gave my BlueEyes a choice, gymnastics or dance? Yes, the commitment she has made to gymnastics is important, but it can’t be her everything. I told her she was more then welcome to skip gym and go to the dance. With a shaking voice and teary eyes, she chose gym.

Wow, proud Mama here. It’s easy to be her biggest cheerleader.