The Fab Five!

"Let them live their dream."

THEIR dream; not YOURS. In this age of Toddlers & Tiaras, soccer moms, and hockey dads, it's refreshing to see the parents of the Gold Medal-winning Women's Gymnastic's team speak in terms of their daughters' happiness.

As they explain, years and years of sacrifice by parents and athletes is simply not worth it unless the child buys, whole-heartedly, in to the program. However, when Gabby Douglas moved far away from her family to Iowa to train with Olympic coach, Yiang Chow, she got homesick and begged to come home. That's when mom stepped in and convinced her to finish her dream.

Fortunately, Gabby's host mom, Missy Parton, whose daughter was also training with Chow, gave her the loving supportive family she needed at the time. Parton welcomed Gabby with open arms. "I knew that she needed that love and comfort that only comes from a family," says Parton. Video chats also kept the Olympic gymnast in touch with her family.

To read more on "Raising an Olympian," Click here.

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Olympic Fever

Yep, I got it.

The cure?

Hours of swimming, diving, gymnastics, beach volleyball, track and field, basketball, soccer. Heck! I even got engrossed in a badminton match! (Is that what it’s called? A match?)

I love the Olympics! Always have. Guess I come by it naturally since my dad was such a fan.

If the opening ceremonies are any indication, these Olympics should be among the best. I’ve heard many commentators say that they don’t expect to ever see another live display to equal what was witnessed last Friday night in Beijing. It was pretty darn good on TV, too!

The swimming competition has been phenomenal! I sure enjoyed the U.S. “crushing” the French swimmers in the 4 X 100 men’s relay! And, how about Cullen Jones!

(From the official Olympic website) When Jones was five years old, his parents took him to a water park. Before he went down a big slide on an inner tube, his dad made him promise not to let go of the tube, no matter what. When he got to the bottom, the tube flipped over, leaving him trapped underwater but clinging to the tube. Jones actually lost consciousness before his father spotted him and pulled him out of the water. Lifeguards performed CPR, and Jones coughed up a pint of water before taking his first breath. But Jones had no idea at the time that his life had been in danger -- he immediately asked his parents what the next ride was.

We should be so grateful that this talented swimmer didn’t develop a fear of water. A good lesson for us all. Too many times, we let fear paralyze us. One bad experience and it’s our excuse to avoid getting into a particular situation for the rest of our lives. Not Cullen Jones. He got right back on the horse...er, into the water!

Got me thinking that, just because my brother used to stuff me in a footstool and sit on the lid is no excuse to avoid elevators and closed spaces! Right? Right??

Sorry. Will finish this later. Gotta go open a window!