I would like to take a moment or two and introduce myself to you. My name is Carrie Heims and I live in Marion, Iowa. Gymnastics runs through my veins, I swear, it must not be blood in there. I can think about gymnastics 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and never become tired of it or have the same thought twice.
Carrie the Gymnast
When I was in first grade my mom enrolled me in a gymnastics class. I, honestly, had never heard of gymnastics before, but I was going to be in class with a girl from my neigborhood, so how bad could it be, right? I started picking up skills quickly and moved out of my original class within a couple months of starting. Maybe this gymnastics thing wasn't going to be so bad even without my friend from the neighborhood. I spent about a year and one-half in recreational classes, when I was tested to join a fast-track to team class. That was the beginning of the end for me - I was going two nights a week and quit the other sports that I was involved in. In third grade, I competed for the first time as a Level 5. It was the thrill of a lifetime for me. I continued competing for six years and reached Level 8 - likely I would have continued for another few years, had I not torn my ACL in my left knee at the first meet of the 1996-1997 season. I had surgery in July 1997 and never quite made it back to competing USA Gymnastics.
Carrie The Coach
Given that while I was recovering from surgery, I could not do ANY gymnastics whatsoever, I began coaching. It was the next best thing and kept me involved with the sport. I absolutely loved working with kids, seeing them achieve new skills, perfect old ones, and watching their eyes light up because of their love for the sport. I coached part-time all the way through high school and college. When I graduated college, coaching became more difficult to find time for because of my full-time job. I really missed working with the kids every night, but I had my own daughter (age four) that needed my time and attention also. I was out in the "real world" at my 8-5 job for about one year before I was offered a full-time position working at the club I spent my youth competing for. DREAM JOB!!!!!! I coached kids ranging in age from 18 months up to Team Level. I also worked in the office doing customer service, payment processing, and marketing/advertising, but coaching was my ultimate love.
Carrie the Parent
In 2008 I became a stay-at-home mom. I absolutely love being at home with my three kids. I feel that it is life's greatest blessing to be with them during the day. I, however, am not fully removed from the gymnastics scene. My ten-year-old daughter competes Level 6. I feel that being a parent is the MOST DIFFICULT position that I have held within the gymnastics field. I respect and love my parents for the wonderful job that they did while I was in competitive gymnastics - I know now that it probably was not an easy job. There are the ups and the downs that the kids go through with skills, coaches, meets, and injuries (I'm sure there are more, but I have surpressed these memories because of the anxiety that they cause me - lol).
Join Me
I hope that my experiences on every side of gymnastics can help you in your experience as a parent. I am SO EXCITED to hear your greatest moments, trials, tribulations and everything that there is going to be along the way. Please come and visit often - I look forward to sharing in your journey as well.
