Gymnastics is a rugged sport, one that I could not imagine trying, so it makes sense that my daughter’s gym has a poster that reads, “If gymnastics was easy, they’d call it football,” and another that implies girls are as tough as boys. Which of course, they are, though apparently in different ways.
Last Saturday night my daughter competed at the MSU Jenison field house, and the announcer periodically broke in with Candy Grams: “Haley, your mother and father and Uncle Joe are so proud of your performance tonight. Keep up the good work!” “Bella, you’ve come so far this year. You’ll always have first place in our hearts!”
I doubt you’d hear such encouraging announcements next door in MSU’s football stadium. “Great touchdown pass, Connor! Your big sister is so proud of you!” “Squeeze the ball tighter next time, Jeremy. Either way, you’ll always be our special son.”
Of course, if next season is anything like the last two, you might be hearing them in Ann Arbor. “Your mom has never been prouder, Brady, but remember that Akron is not the best team in Ohio.”
Mike Wittmer 
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