This summer my eldest started gymnastics.

It’s something she’s wanted to do for a while now. I’ve seen the signs, the handstands against the wall, the cartwheels across the living room, the way she bends into a split on the rug like it’s no big deal. She’s watched gymnastics on TV and mimicked every move with a kind of quiet focus that only comes from passion.

But I’ll admit something, and I hope I can say this without being judged…I hesitated.

Not because I didn’t believe in her. I did, completely. I knew she had a natural talent. But gymnastics is no easy sport. It’s physically demanding, time consuming, and incredibly disciplined. And she already has a full plate: school, piano (which she’s truly gifted at), and everything else that comes with being eight years old and curious about the world.

I was just afraid of adding too much. Of pushing too hard. Of overwhelming her.

But I also didn’t want to hold her back. I could see how much she wanted this and how ready she was to try. So we said yes. We took that little leap of faith together and two weeks ago she started her first gymnastics class.

Today, something happened that left us speechless. After class the coach pulled my husband aside and asked: “Where did she train before this?”

And my husband smiled and said: “She didn’t, she just learned at home.”

The coach was impressed and just like that, they moved her to the advanced group.

We’re so proud of her. I can’t even describe how it feels to see your child step into something they love and be recognized for it.

We still don’t know how we’re going to balance everything. Piano, school, gymnastics, family life, it’s a lot. But when you see your child light up like this, when you see their joy and natural ability come together, you find a way to make room.

Because she’s not just learning routines or techniques, she’s learning confidence, perseverance, and what it means to pursue something that sets her heart on fire.

And that’s something worth nurturing.