It was hard to watch gymnast Gabby Douglas' triumph at the Olympics this week without feeling a sort of parental pride. The first black American to win an individual gold in gymnastics, she did it at just 16! She's an amazing kid.
But she couldn't have done it if her mom hadn't been willing to do something few parents could. Natalie Hawkins sent her daughter halfway across the country at just 14 years old, all alone.
In a moving interview about her decision to let teenage Gabby train with a gymnastics coach in Iowa while she and her other kids stayed behind in their native Virginia, Hawkins made no bones about how tough the decision was. And she was pretty hard on herself, telling the AP, "I'm thinking to myself the whole time, 'What kind of mother does something like that?'"
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I'd say the kind of mother who realizes being a parent means doing what's best for your kid, even when it hurts you to do it.
I don't know if I could send my child to live without me in another town, in another state at any age. Part of me would be wracked with worry that something would happen to her. Part of me would be missing her so badly it hurt.
But if I step away from it all, I realize that my fears would likely be silly -- after all, bad things can happen anywhere -- and my desire to keep her in my home so I wouldn't miss her would be selfish.
I can't fault Hawkins for making this sacrifice for Gabby. Here she had this kid with an immense talent, but the resources in their town weren't enough to help foster it. She made the tough choice, but she made the one that was best for her kid. Isn't that what being a good mom is all about?
Do you think you could do what Gabby Douglas' mom did for her?
Image via Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
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Comments 41
Some people need to watch the video of Gabby and her Mother discussing her decision. It is a moving and touching video. One not taken lightly. BTW Gabby will be making Missions in Endorsments alone. She already has a Wheaties book, winning that gold medal is work $30,000. She will get more then enough money to pay for college and if she is smart about saving and investing it will last her a lifetime.
For all those that have said or made comments along the line that Mrs. Douglas' choice is not proper parenting or that she made a bad choice..... consider that her child, Gabrielle Douglas, has made INTERNATIONAL history and will be an inspiration to many future individuals, both African American and otherwise who have a dream and will have to go through many different obstacles (e.g. moving away from home at a young age) to achieve it...
Can any of you who offer any criticism say the same about your children?
How is what Ms. Hawkins did any different than sending your child off to school some place else? What she did was worth it. I think Ms. Hawkins is a great example of sacrifice. And look at what her daughter was able to achieve. Amazing.
It depends on the child..
I probably would have done the same for my dd. She had a dream and pursued it, therefore her mom let her live out her dream and she made it. Not only do I applaud her mom but for the family that took her in and became a surrogate family so to speak. They all should be very proud.
Dear Guest, according to Merriam-Webster a premise is either "set forth beforehand as an introduction or a postulate" or the basis for an argument. In Ms. Sager's blog she postluates that Ms. Hawkins (I apologize for getting her name wrong in prior posts) that Ms. Hawkins' decision to send her daughter to a gym where she could get the training she needed to reach her olympic goals is what makes her an outstanding mom. She sets out this premise early in her blog (in fact, it is contained in the title) and then spends the rest of the blog attempting to prove her premise.