Practice

Date: Thu Nov 29 8:42 AM, 2007

Practice

LadyW · Senior Member

I take a lot of pictures (especially action shots) so I like to watch the routine during practice so that know whats coming up next and can have my camera at that spot.
Also, because I take pictures of the different teams I don't get to see the whole routine. I see sections, and bits and pieces. Practice is the only time I sometimes get to see things.

Also -- I like to watch the progression -- seeing girls learning new things and then a few months later having them mastered. That is very rewarding even for a parent.

-- Edited by LadyW at 09:26, 2007-11-29

Date: Thu Nov 29 9:29 AM, 2007

Thanks, I asked because I love to watch practices but my daughter likes the element of surprise at competitions...so I've compromised and only watch one out of the three practices.

OC Mom · GURU

I'm a crazy mom, so I can't really answer this. But so is Lady W. So we aren't really good people to respond to this. We would stay all day, everyday if we could.

I didn't miss a single practice for 7 years. This year I've missed a few because our littler ones are now doing sports as well. But I'm still there. She USED to complain a little, but now that I missed some, I'm in trouble. Go figure.

-- Edited by OC Mom at 09:47, 2007-11-29

Date: Thu Nov 29 10:01 AM, 2007

We are not allowed to watch practices, except the last 15 minutes. Once a month parents can come and watch the whole thing if they choose. I don't like going. I think it's distracting for the girls. Plus I like the element of supprise. Before any big comps they usually do a performance for the parents. I'm pretty sure that it's like this for most of the gyms.

Date: Thu Nov 29 10:18 AM, 2007

I love my daughter. When she is happy I'm happy. When she was little I attended all her practices. With all her activities I admit I had no life. Now that she is getting older and in High School I do not attend all her practices, and if given the choice I still wouldn't. It's not that I don't care I do, but I'm starting to enjoy both of our independence. There is a time to back away. Plus I agree it's too distracting when all the parents are sitting watching. I also come the last 15 minutes or so of practice. We usually get to see at least one or two run thrus of the whole routine. To be honest it gets kinda boring after awhile. I'd rather be supprised at the competition. Mind you I'm still a taxi service until she is old enough to drive.

Date: Thu Nov 29 10:19 AM, 2007

I'm a crazy mom too. I would watch every practice and every single team that competes at competitions (be there for the 1st and stay till the last). But I notice that hardly any parents stay and watch. I wish we had those windows that we can see the girls but the girls can't see us.

Date: Thu Nov 29 10:54 AM, 2007

Our gym allows you to come once a month to watch which is great! At first you are there every month, and then you find yourself not wanting to interrupt the flow of things so I come the last few minutes on our "monthly veiwing day"
Not being at every practice makes for great late dinner convesration or on the way home conversation to ask them about practice, because you weren't there and you know we need every little detail lol. Those talks are priceless. I personally find it interesting how my daughter perceives things. It allows her to have her own opinion on certain situations that I probably would be like WHAT (if I were there)!
I only go in if my daughter tells me she got a new skill or she really wants me to see something. I think its distracting for the girls and coaches no matter how quiet you are and usually we moms aren't that quiet smile

not only that but when we are there we all become coaches in some way just kidding, but you know what I mean. If our gym had a seperate area with glass windows, i'd probably plant my butt right there every practice. But for those of us who are not so lucky to have that luxury, I appreciate the once a month veiwing. It is a great compromise and as long as I feel feel like the gym has an open door policy. And I know my daughter is safe and happy, I will respect their policy.
I think its the gyms responibilty to assure and make the parents feel comfortable with closed practices when they have that policy. And I am totally comfortable with my gym, so Im cool with waiting for competitions biggrin

Date: Thu Nov 29 11:05 AM, 2007

We have a glassed, separate viewing area, and it has 3 tumble tracks between us and the floor, so I'd say the parents aren't disruptive. Maybe they put in bullet proof glass biggrin

because you can't hear through the glass even if someone is screaming on the other side. I stay at every practice (most moms don't) because daughter requests it. Even so, I'd like to leave, but gym is far and there are only so many errands I want to run in bumper-to-bumper rush hour traffic. Saves me $$$ if I sit there.

That said, I don't watch often 'cuz I like to be surprised. I watch enough to know where the kid is in the routine and then read or chit chat. I lift my head when I hear gasps, see if it is the kid and go back to my book. I can't wait until I get to have my own life, but am happy to be there as long as I am wanted. smile

I only have a few more years before I am persona non grata(sp).

Date: Thu Nov 29 12:04 PM, 2007

My daughter has me scared to go and scared to stay. If I watch her she says I was pressuring her and if I don't she says I don't care what she does. I am just a sad, confused parent, so I just stay and bring stuff to do, If my daughter messes up I look down and pretend I didn't see her and if she does something great I smile and give the thumbs up signal.

Date: Thu Nov 29 12:13 PM, 2007

Anonymous wrote:

My daughter has me scared to go and scared to stay. If I watch her she says I was pressuring her and if I don't she says I don't care what she does. I am just a sad, confused parent, so I just stay and bring stuff to do, If my daughter messes up I look down and pretend I didn't see her and if she does something great I smile and give the thumbs up signal.

lol that is so funny!

Date: Thu Nov 29 12:16 PM, 2007

Are you sure your not talking about my daughter. She does the samething. D_____ if I do D_____ if I don't. I get so confused :(

Date: Thu Nov 29 12:19 PM, 2007

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

My daughter has me scared to go and scared to stay. If I watch her she says I was pressuring her and if I don't she says I don't care what she does. I am just a sad, confused parent, so I just stay and bring stuff to do, If my daughter messes up I look down and pretend I didn't see her and if she does something great I smile and give the thumbs up signal.

lol that is so funny!

I agree with this post and I must say that you made me chuckle out loud...LOL I'm so glad to hear how many of you moms (and dads) feel. I love to watch my daughter practice and I wouldn't trade watching her grow during this time in her life for anything.

(Still chuckling! I love this sport...LOL) aww

I

Pixie · Senior Member

To answer the original question: I would say that the majority of parents do not stay and watch practice.
I have never been one to fall into the category of "the majority"!

My husband and I usually both go to every practice. (He is the cheer nut!) I like to see the teams progess. We watch from a viewing room with a window. We get to know some of the other parents and feel like we are sitting with friends at competitions - not just strangers from the same gym.

I also feel a lot more comfortable knowing that at least one of us is there in case of injury.

-- Edited by Pixie at 12:35, 2007-11-29

Date: Thu Nov 29 1:13 PM, 2007

Any gym we have every been at including Cheergyms had closed practices.

LadyW · Senior Member

Pixie wrote:

We get to know some of the other parents and feel like we are sitting with friends at competitions - not just strangers from the same gym.

I totally agree -- I am still friends with several parents even though I left the our gym 2 years ago.

APLOVER · Senior Member

my mom will come in and watch the last 5 or 10 minutes of practice a very great once in a while but she doent like to come because she wants to be surprised come competition...

OC Mom · GURU

D______ Moms,

I think you're just the scape goats for your daughters feelings at that particular moment. They feel pressured and so they blame it on you. Then miss you if you are gone. They most likely WANT you there but are a tad bit embarrassed when they mess up. But since you aren't going to divorce them any time soon, you are going to be their punching bags. Not fair but reality.

Today, mine was asking what she should do about something. Suddenly I know nothing, don't understand, not getting the point, etc. I told her, "for 16 years I've told you what to do and now I suddenly know NOTHING. I've never done you wrong before, why would I start now? Hey, if you have all the answers, then why do you need my help?"

Yea, she stopped being mad at me. My dear dear friend Worlds Watcher once told me, "Maybe she doesn't need you to fix the problem, she just needs to vent."

I STILL live by that advice Mrs. Worlds Watcher. I still do.

Date: Fri Nov 30 4:35 AM, 2007

OC Mom wrote:

D______ Moms,

I think you're just the scape goats for your daughters feelings at that particular moment. They feel pressured and so they blame it on you. Then miss you if you are gone. They most likely WANT you there but are a tad bit embarrassed when they mess up. But since you aren't going to divorce them any time soon, you are going to be their punching bags. Not fair but reality.

Today, mine was asking what she should do about something. Suddenly I know nothing, don't understand, not getting the point, etc. I told her, "for 16 years I've told you what to do and now I suddenly know NOTHING. I've never done you wrong before, why would I start now? Hey, if you have all the answers, then why do you need my help?"

Yea, she stopped being mad at me. My dear dear friend Worlds Watcher once told me, "Maybe she doesn't need you to fix the problem, she just needs to vent."

I STILL live by that advice Mrs. Worlds Watcher. I still do.

Your daughter trusts you enough that she can vent emotions that may be ugly and scary to her. Mine holds herself together all day and then BOOM lets down on me. I just pretend I am a third party watching it until the spew stops. If she crosses a major line, I engage, but for small petty stuff I don't interrupt until she is done. hmm

OC Mom · GURU

Oooo, tough but a great great tactic.... isn't it so hard to just sit there not say, "No dont do that! No, do it this way!!!" That's my hardest thing, keeping my mouth shut.

I mean, I'm super super reserved, don't you all think?