If I Were the Parent of an Olympian

Today I watched a video of Olympic gymnast Aly Raisman's parents as they watched her perform her bar routine in the 2012 Olympics.

Now, I've been living under a rock and even I've seen this, but in case you haven't...here it is:

Yeah, they look like crazy people. But as I've watched the Olympics this time around, I've noticed something about myself. I find myself identifying more with the parents and less with the athletes.  I mean, not like I identify with the athletes in a hey-I-like-to-ride-horses-and-could-totally-be-an-Olympic-athlete kinda way.  More in the we're-about-the-same-age kinda way. But I feel a shift taking place.  I feel like I can relate more to the parents than to the athletes.  I see the gymnasts take the stage and no longer think, "Thanks for nothing, mom -  this could have been ME if you'd just let me stay in gymnastics a little longer!" (and for the record, I took six weeks of gymnastics when I was four years old). Instead I think, "OMG they're so YOUNG and they have all this pressure on them and their mothers must be absolutely dying of nerves watching their babies compete in the freaking Olympics!" And I feel my stomach turn a bit on behalf of nervous moms-of-Olympians everywhere.

Because if that were my kid?  I would be fuh-REAKING out.  No, seriously.  My poor little nerves couldn't handle it.  In fact, I feel a little anxiety creeping in just *thinking* about it!

So, when Claire's competing in the Olympic Games (showjumping, no doubt) in 2028, look for me in the stands.  Because that will be some video footage you won't want to miss.