Family Talk: Gabby Douglas Wins Big at a High Price

Gabby Douglas is living proof that the price of gold is higher than some might think.

The 16-year-old gold medalist is the first African American to win a gold medal in the women's individual all-around competition.

Hard work and sheer determination have paid off for the teen, who can boast of success many of us cannot even fathom.

From the balance beam and uneven bars to the vaults and floor exercise, Douglas has been all smiles throughout the all-around gymnastics competition, exuding strength, energy and perseverance.

The price for Douglas' win is not only found in the thousands of hours and years of practice, but in the fact that she had to leave home and her family to accomplish such a feat.

Douglas began training at the age of 8 and was quickly recognized for her natural talent and abilities, as reported by CBS. Moving away from home, in Virginia, to train in Iowa with her new coach was a move that did not come easy to her mother, Natalie Hawkins, according to ABC.

At age 14, Douglas said goodbye to all that she knew, including her family, to train and become the Olympic gold medalist she is today. Just two years after moving away and only seeing her mother less than a handful of times, Douglas has made history and won the hearts of fans the world over.

As a parent, I cannot imagine sending my child more than 1,000 miles away to train in any sport at the age of 14. It's even harder for me to visualize doing this with a daughter.

I know that my over-protective nature would not allow such an event to take place in my life with my children.

I'm sure, as is alluded to in the ABC report, Douglas' mother did not come to the decision easily, but the fact that she was able to make such a choice is tremendous.

The pride she must feel in her child must be beaming out of her right now, but does that make up for the time lost?

Only Douglas and Hawkins have the answer to that.