Growing up there was absolutely no way I would have been a cheerleader, and my siblings find it absolutely ironic that I am just that.  Give me band, choir, tennis and I am all over it, but cheer???  So I find myself evaluating this whole adventure as I start year 5 with my 3rd daughter, Anna this week.  Here is what I have decided, this is nuts!!!  Hahaha!  And the people are the nuttiest part!!  lol

Anna started cheer because she needed an activity as the youngest child where she felt accomplished.  Ok, she wanted medals and more medals and more medals.  Ha..  And after her 1st year she was hooked.  The bling, the purple team color (her favorite), the pride and sense of accomplishment it brings her, the friendships, and other things I do not understand but support.  There is something about working hard then competition day arriving getting up there in all the glittery make up and teased, curled or bumped hair and showing off the smiles and sass while putting it all out there for the judges for 2 1/2 minutes.

By this time mom is mentally and physically exhausted.  The adrenaline is flowing as we get up early to undo the curlers or try to poof the front of the hair while all the while trying not to short out.  I have done more hair in the last 5 years than I ever did.  I am your plain Jane mom who never was all about the make up and hair.  (Contrary to my mom’s wishes…lol)  Then it’s applying glue and glitter make up to the eyes and bright pink lipstick without using to many make up wipes to clean up all the glitter everywhere else.  Then rushing off to the venue to spend $20 on a ticket for a 2 1/2 minute performance and at the max with awards 2 hours of your day.  But after those 2 1/2 minutes there is only 1 thing you want…..your daughter’s team to win or at least do well.  And you find yourself looking forward to seeing the medals and trophies, but most of all the pride on the face of your daughter.  OMG I still cannot believe this is my world…lol.

This past season was a new one for me.  I found myself angry and frustrated for various reasons with the organization and coaching, so dove in head first trying to get it all figured out.  Did it take some time and back and forth, yes, but was it worth it…..I believe so.  But what happened recently left me speechless, ok until now.  Several parents I have known for 4 years decided they had had enough and were leaving the program.  They made it very clear they were not happy with the coach and the direction of the team.  I understood.  But by the end of the season I wasn’t sure who the children were anymore.  It was like Junior High all over again.  Too much to detail and quite frankly still processing this whole thing.  Definitely another post…ha.

Anna’s team made it to the D2 Summit in Orlando, FL. last month and it was truly an experience.  Watching these cheer moms (and dads) dressing up acting like divas when I knew they were no more a diva than me….it is a culture.  My eyes were bugged out the whole week…lol.  Anna was required to be with the team for the whole week so Grace came with me and we enjoyed Disney together.  What was sad for me was that Anna enjoyed moments but really it wasn’t all she had hoped for.  I think I will save that for another story.  The purpose of mentioning this is because of the result.  Here we are sitting at the ESPN venue waiting for our girls 2 1/2 minutes to show all of their hard work and sacrifice over the past year, one of the top 17 teams in the country in their Small Gym.  Then the moment comes………..

Anna had struggled all week with a stunt which she based.  All season she was holding her flier by the leg and the coach told her a week before she needed to hold her foot not the leg (although they wouldn’t lose points).  But it was going to be hit or miss and on this day it was a miss.  She didn’t drop her to the floor but didn’t fully complete the catch and it was counted as a fall.  We knew we wouldn’t make the finals.  To see my daughter come down the tunnel and break out in tears was heart wrenching.  She knew although this is a team sport, she made a mistake.  But the reality is they all have at 1 time or another, only the stage was the elite and the weight was heavy.  But what I hadn’t expected was the reaction of the parents and coach.  The coach told Anna if she had made the catch they would have made the finals, only 2 parents told her it was ok, and the rest just just ignored having to talk to me because, yes they blamed my daughter in that moment.  She had 4 teammates who came over and were immediately supportive the rest said nothing.  All I could think was wow…..  Two days earlier they were all talking about returning, after all the girls have been together for 3 -4 years.  But now it was time to bail for a different program where they will be successful.  This mom was pissed and sad.

Which brings me to now….season 5.  5 returning girls on the team, none of whom ever considered leaving for a “better team” and 3 new members.  Yes we are now a smaller team by 1, but hey it’s ok.  I had to revisit this whole world with Anna again to make sure she wanted to continue and she does.  She has 2 seasons left and wants to participate.  3 of them are her soul sisters as they all started together.  But our outlook on this all has changed.  The next 2 years are 100% about having fun, and if medals and trophies are won awesome, but it no longer is going to be the focus.  She is on board with this because she has been there and done that and you know what she is over it.  She will do her best for her team and herself, but knows being #1 isn’t all that matters.  I am proud of her.  So the adventure begins.

As for the parents that left I am over it.  I don’t want to be that parent that is crazy over involved, making it all about winning, over absorbed with the whole culture and not able to see why we are investing in this for our daughter.  But shame on those who switched teams only to show up to our try outs and be placed on teams knowing they weren’t returning.  Grow up and just be honest!

I think it is best to end this post but I will return with more to share as this is a big part of my journey as a mom of 3 daughters.