Well 2 seasons ago my daughter was in her gymnastics class with a girl who the both of them would fight over being first. I told my daughter thats it I do not want to see you first again. My daughter stopped and stayed away but the other girl wouldnt she'd go over and bother my daughter and push her. I finally had to step in because the teacher did nothing. This past season everything was great they separated them and all went good. Well guess what they put them in the same class again. So the girl starts up again. My daughter was sitting on top of the pummel horse and she tried to push her off then while they were waiting on line she pushed her back again. I turned to the mom and said you need to keep your kid from pushing or touching my kid. Mom blew up and I saw where she got it from. She even called her daughter out of class to say I was a lunitic and that she was to stay away from my kid. Course this kid goes in and tells her friends and they are all driving my daughter nuts. At the end of class this lady goes in complaining about someone else so I go in and tell the teacher just to separate them. . Different classes. The mom came later and appologized but the damage was done now all the kids were harrassing my kid about it. I'm sooo pissed off. Part of me wants to say forget it lets forget the class but my daughter likes it or did before this. So annoyed and have a splitting headeache
LOUSY instructor.
There should be no reason, ever, for a parent to have to step in. They should be on it. Period. I'd start looking for a new gym, pronto.
if the school isn't doing a better job of fostering GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP - something this other girl CLEARLY does NOT have...I would look for another school that has the same ideals, morals and integrity as me and my daughter...
it's clear to me that the mother did EXACTLY what she wanted to do - created drama - apologized and of course NOT IN FRONT OF THE OTHER girls and viola....it's a "fest".....
I would ask my daughter to join me in finding another class - NOT tell the other students - it's not a lie - as she hasn't found one yet and leave this school....
GOOD LUCK!!
I'd start looking for another school, personally. It's supposed to be a fun, positive environment, and it sounds like between the mom, daughter, and the employees, themselves, no one is doing anything to curb the problem.
For the kids that really know your daughter they know the truth about what is going on.. The other girl is never going to change.. She will continue to push at others and slowly they will understand who has the real problem.
Until then, explain to your daughter you are there for her and she is doing great. Encourage her not to change and not to let others bother her.
The other girl obviously is intimidated by your daughter. She knows your daughter works hard and takes gymnastics seriously, she is probably also worried about having to compete against her..
I promise, others will soon realize the truth. Just hold her head high and do not run from this. Your daughter needs to know she is strong enough to handle this.
I would talk to the teacher, she really should be keeping all the girls in line better
Wow. I would have been looking for the reality TV show cameras. Stay away from people who crave drama--it's just not worth the energy.
Sounds like the instructor isn't doing their job, and that the environment the kids (and, in your case, the mother of the offender) are creating is no good. You said she had fun and she will have fun again at another place if you choose to find one. I taught dance for many years (at a facility that was primarily a gymnastics school) and this would not have flown in my class. As the teacher I would have talked to the parent if my dealing with the situation didn't help. These classes should be fun, not dramatic! Good luck!
If the mom apologized to you, then she needs to go and do so to your daughter, in front of the other kids and explain that her behavior was uncalled for. That is the way to set the right example for all the kids, including her daughter. And then the other mom should have her daughter apologize, too. Will she do it, well, that is another question.
I'm amazed to see how many people are advising you to teach your child to run away from her problems! (a problem you kind of made worse by loosing your cool and interfering) I don't think changing her classes is going to change anything, because when she encounters an issue there, she will simply tell you to change her again or have you deal with it.
Our job as parents is to protect and educate children. In his instant, I feel you failed to teach her (and her coach) a valuable lesson about bullying. Not only that, you fell right into their trap!
Its not easy, but If it were my child, I would have her talk to the coach(in my presence) and make sure they know bullying isn't allowed. Then I would demand a formal apology from the girl. It may not make her popular, but it's the right thing to do... Over protecting our children does not serve them well...
You can find many resources on the net to help you guys better approach the situation.
Please don't run. It's not the value you want to teach your daughter. When life gets hard, we push harder! We don't run away!
I wish you luck!
