10/08/2026
This is a long read, but so true. I copied this from another gym's page because it almost brought me to tears. Hope you all take the time to read it.
A NOTE TO THE PARENTS OF KIDS IN GYMNASTICS, MARTIAL ARTS, DANCE, CHEER, NINJA, SKATING, AND EVERY OTHER YOUTH ACTIVITY PROGRAM...
I've spent more than 20 years working with the people who own the gyms, studios, dojos, and academies where you take your kids.
I've been behind the scenes with them. I've seen them at their best, at their worst, when they're celebrating, when they're exhausted, and when they're wondering what the hell they got themselves into. I had the distinct privilege to work with them through the utter chaos of the covid era (that was something.)
And after all these years, there are a few things I wish every parent understood about the people you've trusted with your children and teenagers.
For starters, most of these folks care about your kid WAY more than you probably realize.
I know that might sound like something nice to say, but I'm telling you, I've seen it firsthand and actually see this day in and day out.
I've watched grown adults get genuinely emotional because a child who wouldn't speak to anyone six months earlier finally made a friend. I've seen coaches get ridiculously excited over a skill that probably looked like absolutely nothing to the parents watching from the lobby.
I've heard owners talk about kids who were having a rough time at school, or struggling at home, or dealing with things that no child should have to deal with.
And these weren't conversations about enrollments or retention or how much money those families were spending.
They were worried about the kids.
Your kid might be one of them.
Something else you should know is that your child's instructor probably sees a side of your child that you don't always get to see.
At home, your kid might be stubborn, argumentative, or completely unwilling to listen to a word you say. At the gym, that same kid might be the first one helping a younger student who is struggling.
Or maybe it's the other way around. Your confident, outgoing child might be absolutely terrified of failing in front of their classmates.
These instructors get to see who your kids are becoming, often in moments when you aren't there to watch.
And when they're really good at what they do, they find ways to help your child grow that have very little to do with the activity that you think you're paying for.
Now, there's some other stuff I'd love for parents to understand, and some of it might sting a little.
When you fire off a nasty email because you're unhappy about a schedule change, a makeup policy, or something that didn't go your way, there's a real person on the other side reading it with a pit in their stomach.
Often it's the same person who spent their weekend making sure your child had a great experience at an event.
When you show up late to pick up your kid, somebody is staying late with them. Maybe that person has a family waiting at home, too.
When you're upset because your child hasn't moved up to the next level, earned the next belt, made the team, or gotten the part they wanted, please consider that the person making that decision might actually know something you don't.
They might be protecting your child from getting hurt. They might recognize that your kid isn't quite ready. Or they might believe, with good reason, that learning how to work through disappointment is exactly what your child needs right now.
And sometimes, believe it or not, your child might simply need more practice. And yes, I'm well aware that's not always what a parent wants to hear.
I've also watched parents become furious over something that, six months later, nobody even remembers. Meanwhile, the child moved on by dinner.
Here's the thing. These owners and coaches aren't perfect. Not even close. None of us are.
Some of them are lousy communicators. Some make questionable decisions. Some have policies that probably ought to be changed. I've spent a good portion of my career helping them recognize and fix exactly those things.
However, I wish more parents understood how much of themselves these people pour into their businesses.
I've known owners who went months without paying themselves because they wanted to make sure their instructors got paid. People who've borrowed money, worked second jobs, missed their own children's activities, and spent nights staring at the ceiling wondering how they were going to keep everything going.
I've seen them take a phone call from an angry parent, hang up, collect themselves, and then walk out onto the floor to give a high five to a six-year-old who just accomplished something wonderful.
And no, I'm not suggesting you should feel guilty about paying tuition, or that an owner's personal sacrifices excuse poor service. They don't. Trust me, I fight that battle every single day to help raise the bar.
But a little perspective would go a long way.
Because there's something that happens in these places that I don't think we talk about nearly enough.
Kids grow up there.
Think about that for a second.
Some of these kids walk through the doors for the first time at three or four years old. They can barely follow directions, can't tie their shoes, and spend half the class looking for Mom or Dad.
A few years later, they're helping the new little kid who's scared to come onto the floor.
Then they're teenagers, maybe helping teach classes themselves, mentoring younger students, learning to lead, learning to be responsible for someone besides themselves.
And eventually, they leave.
They graduate. They go to college. They get jobs. They start their own lives.
I've talked to owners who can tell you about kids they taught 15 or 20 years ago. They remember their names. They remember their parents. They remember the struggles those kids had and how far they came.
Sometimes those former students come back to visit, all grown up, and you should see what that does to the people who taught them.
These owners spend years investing in children they know are eventually going to leave. And yet, they do it anyway.
I think about the parents who tell me that their child's confidence has completely changed since starting classes. Or that their kid finally found somewhere they belong. Or that a coach was able to get through to their teenager when nobody else could.
For some children, that gym or studio is the best part of their entire week.
For some, it's one of the few places where they feel genuinely successful.
And for some, the adult teaching their class may be one of the most important positive influences in their lives outside their own family. That's an enormous responsibility, and the good ones take it very seriously.
Here's what I'd love to see.
I'd love for parents to remember that they're on the same team as the people teaching their kids.
Ask questions. Speak up when something isn't right. Hold the business to a high standard. Absolutely.
But maybe don't assume the worst every time something doesn't go exactly as you'd hoped.
Maybe give the coach or the owner the benefit of the doubt before deciding they're being unfair.
And every once in a while, tell these people what they've meant to your family.
I'm serious about that last one.
If your child has become more confident, more disciplined, more independent, or just plain happier because of their experience, tell the person responsible.
Don't assume they know.
Because I've sat across from enough of these owners to know that a single genuine thank-you from a parent can get someone through a pretty awful week.
One last thing.
Someday, your child is going to walk out of that building for the last time.
You probably won't even realize it's the last time when it happens.
And years from now, I doubt they'll remember what you paid every month. They may not remember the scores, the routines, the combinations, or even the trophies.
But I bet they'll remember the people and how those people made them FEEL.
The instructor who made them feel like they mattered. The coach who believed they could do something before they believed it themselves. The adult who noticed when they were having a bad day and took a minute to ask what was going on.
I've built my career around helping these businesses succeed, and I can tell you that the longer I do this, the more I appreciate just how much they matter.
So to the parents reading this, the next time you drop your child off for class, I hope you'll look at that place a little differently.
And to the owners and instructors who've dedicated their lives to working with other people's children, I hope you know how much respect I have for what you do.
There are kids walking around today who are better human beings because you were part of their lives.
Some of them will tell you that. Most probably won't.
But that doesn't make it any less true.
Thank you for being the change we all want to see in this world!
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