In a conversation with Parents Magazine earlier this week, Ex-Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson East revealed the lessons she learned about being a parent from being an Olympian and the differences with her second pregnancy.
Shawn Johnson talked about the differences in her pregnancies and common anxieties.
The differences in cravings between pregnancies are wild for Johnson, who explains, “With my daughter, I craved nothing but watermelon. Now with this guy, I crave eggs and avocado and right now ice for some reason.”
The Olympian is also very into chocolate, which is why her partnership with Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Raising the “Bar” to Help Kids Campaign is so timely. Ferrero’s Crunch, Butterfinger, and Baby Ruth will have special designs and the proceeds will go to support the hospitals. Shawn explained why the cause means so much to her, saying, “It really hits home. As a parent, I can’t imagine being in that situation.”
When asked if she would be watching the Olympics with her soon-to-be newborn, who is due around the opening ceremony, she replied, “All the late nights with a newborn, I will be watching all of it.”
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Shawn Johnson revealed the key parenting lesson she learned as an Olympian.
It’s pithy too. “Failure is the only way to succeed.”
She continues “I feel like as a parent, it’s all foreign territory. And you just kind of have to learn the hard way with everything. I think for me and my husband, we just take things with a grain of salt and not to obsess too much on perfection.” If that advice got her through the Olympics, then maybe it will help other moms.
It has certainly helped Johnson throught the pandemic. She explains, “On top of all the unknowns of the pregnancy, the pandemic definitely made it a little scarier. Being pregnant though with a toddler-it’s definitely crazy. It makes pregnancy life a little bit more intense. But we’re excited; we cannot wait for our little man to get here.”
She’s particularly excited for her older daughter to become an older sister, saying, “I think she’s going to be amazing. My sister-in-law just had a baby, her third. And we were fortunate enough to be able to go visit and my daughter just fell in love with him and just the concept of Baby. She was so gentle and she’s just a little lover, so I think she’s gonna love him.”
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