Gymnastics Mother Shawn Johnson East Drops Unseen Toll of Parenting on Relationships: “Miss Spending Time With Him”

Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson East’s athletic accolades have reserved a seat for her in the pantheon of the sports. Her legacy can easily rival some of the greats like Mary Lou Retton, Dominique Dawes, and even Simone Biles. She captured America’s heart as a teen prodigy at the age of 16 with her near-flawless balance beam routine in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Now, aged 31, Shawn Johnson East is still one of the vital proponents of American gymnastics, but she finds fulfilment in off-the-mat engagements.

Beyond her trophy collections, Shawn Johnson East has four more vital possessions. These are, of course, her husband and three kids whom she loves to bits. In a recent social media parlance, she revealed the magnitude of her esteem to her husband who contributed to the child-rearing responsibilities despite missing out on intimate moments.

Shawn Johnson East highlights husband’s role in navigating parenthood struggles

Shawn Johnson East is married to ex-NFL player Andrew East. Both retired athletes have made a world of their own in Nashville, Tennessee, where the happy couple have filled the crib with three children. Barrett “Bear” Madison East is the latest addition to the family, who has preoccupied every waking moment in the gymnast’s life. In an NBC exclusive, Shawn Johnson East spoke about the implications of nursing the newborn round the clock. She said, “Daddy is doing the best job in the world showering them with attention and adventures but this mama misses her big babies”. Moreover, the couple does not get time to spend together, but Andrew East has shown no signs of frustration or exhaustion. Therefore, the Hall of Famer gymnast credited him with the most wonderful titles on her Instagram post.

She shared a memorable visual of Andrew East holding Bear in his arms while a beautiful note on the overlay text floated over the snap. Cationed, “Best friend”, the note expressed her longing to be in his company. She wrote, “I miss spending time with him just the two of us even though I see him everyday”. Shawn Johnson East’s devotion goes beyond her show of gratitude on social media to real, tangible actions in life.

Shawn Johnson East names newborn in father-in-law’s memory

Andrew East is a source of patience, inspiration, work ethic, and wisdom for her. Therefore, she loves him dearly and can relate to his inner turmoil. The NFL icon lost his father in December 2022 and has not been able to overcome his grief. Guy Madison East was a doting grandfather who assumed the two children of the Johnson-East household with funny stories.

Read More: After Gymnastic Flips at 34 Weeks, Shawn Johnson East Shares Children’s Touching Response As Due Date Nears

Unfortunately, Bear will never know his grandfather, but he carries his name. The gymnast has made it possible for her husband to pay homage to his father in a graceful manner. This is proof of Johnson’s reverence for familial ties.

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