My daughter left competitve cheerleading this past year after 6 seasons of competing. She really left for a couple of reasons. First, it just wasn't fun anymore. With all the pressure of Worlds and fielding level 5 teams I think it has taken some of the joy out of the sport. I know there will be alot of people who do not agree with me out there, but if you really look closely are our kids having fun. There can be a balance of hard work and fun!
I was worried she was going to be miserable without cheer. There are parts of her that miss it when I see her checking out youtube for cheer videos. Like me she just enjoys watching the routines and always will. Guess what?! I was wrong. She is a senior in high school, has a fun job, is getting good grades! She is so peaceful this year, I think because she can breathe and just enjoy her last year in high school.
The second reason she left was just the pure expense of it. In these economic times, cheer just became a luxury. We kept it going for 6 years. We knew that senior year was going to be an expense in itself.
I guess the reason I am posting is for all those cheerleaders and parents who might be leaving cheer behind this year for whatever the reason may be. There is life after cheer. My daughter and I will always have the memories and dvds! She learned amazing lessons in working as a team and how rewarding it can be. She made amazing friends. She was inspired by amazing coaches(thanks cheergyms).
I am glad that we slowed down long enough to enjoy her final year of high school and relish it.
My daughter too, although she is not a senior in high school is ready to give up all star cheer. For some of the reasons you stated, but mostly it just isn't any fun for her anymore. For us she switched from a gym that was very family oriented and the parents and cheerleaders were very comitted. To a gym where the comittment level is just not there. That is really hard to deal with, consideing she is very competitive and has been cheering for almost her entire life. This season we have watched in one year her drive and love for cheer diminish.
I am just glad to hear from someone else that it's ok to walk away. As her mom I was feeling she would miss it so much and regret giving it up, because we made a wrong choice in choosing a gym. In our many talks, as we decide what we are doing next season. I keep throwing out the idea that we will find a gym for her after this season. But after reading your post ,I may just let her retire from all star cheer. She is thinking of cheering for her school. I know that still leaves her in the cheerleading curcuit, but she will be with her friends from school and their school has a fantastic program with comitted families and cheerleaders. It might be what she needs to regain her love for the sport of cheer.
That is so glad to hear. We left cheeleading last year. My daughter swore to never cheer again. Later she decided she wanted to cheer again. We joined a new gym with new faces. She is so happy at her new gym. It is more family oriented and although it is a large gym it has the feeling of a small gym. So if you are thinking of leaving cheer make sure it is because you dont want to cheer and not because of the gym. the first gym was not bad it was that the new gym was better. We always fell welcome my daughter has gained so much confidence. I would have never thought of coming to the new gym because the people at our old gym would always say bad things about this gym. Why did I listen to that. Please remember if someone is talking bad about a gym it is likely because they are their competition and not because the gym is bad. I realize that now. I should have asked myself before, If the other gym is so bad then why are they much larger, happier and stronger than our gym? Well we love our new gym and still wish the best of our old gym.. What I am trying to say is I thought we were dont with cheerleading and it was not cheerleading it was the place where we cheered was not compatible with us.
Thats wonderful to hear, its always refreshing to see that sparkle in a childs eyes again. I have been in your shoes as well, and my daughter has learned SO much from her new gym. Its the best decision we made. Good luck to your daughter in all of her new endeavors this year.
I will add -- We left our gym when my daughters coach left. Her heart broke and so did her spirit. As an 9 year old the kids really can pour their heart and soul into their coach and when he left it was devasting to her. Since she was taking ballet and tap at the time, we took a year and went the studio dance direction. She hated it. There really was no "team" atmosphere and the dance competitions were very boring. So the next year she went back to all-star but in the dance end. Found a coach who brings out the best in her (even though her coach is 1 tough cookie) and had a blast being back in the "all star" end of things. Well lo and behold, her old coach comes back to town and starts his own place. She stayed with the dance group this year, but I can tell she is going back and forth trying to decide if she wants to go back to cheer (where she is really mediocre at best) or stay in the dance end where she is one of the top dancers on her team. It is a very tough decision. AS you see, I still frequent the cheer boards (to get my fix), I love to watch cheerleading and I personally miss it. But she will be 12 next year and I have to let her decide what she feels she wants to do. Ultimately it will be a family decision, but she will drive that because she is the one who has to be committed to the practices and the team.
PS -- Its also that time of year where everybody seems to be on the fence. Do I stay next year or go, do I switch gyms or stay... My advice, wait -- this is a tough time of year -- wait till the end of the season, then make your decision.
Thats wonderful to hear, its always refreshing to see that sparkle in a childs eyes again. I have been in your shoes as well, and my daughter has learned SO much from her new gym. Its the best decision we made. Good luck to your daughter in all of her new endeavors this year.
Thank you for you nice words. I agree it is refreshing. I dont think there is a "good gym bad gym" just what works for you. She is so happy now and so am I.
I'm sorry but this post is incorrect.... this little girl is NOT mediocre at anything she does. She was an amazing cheerleader and I got the pleasure to know her the year my daughter was at the same gym. Her mom is being VERY modest. This little girl shines. She really does. But I can see why she quit cheer. It's super tough to decide what to do when your favorite coach moves away. I'm just glad she has the chance to decide to go back. Not many kids get that choice.
LadyW wrote:
I will add -- We left our gym when my daughters coach left. Her heart broke and so did her spirit. As an 9 year old the kids really can pour their heart and soul into their coach and when he left it was devasting to her. Since she was taking ballet and tap at the time, we took a year and went the studio dance direction. She hated it. There really was no "team" atmosphere and the dance competitions were very boring. So the next year she went back to all-star but in the dance end. Found a coach who brings out the best in her (even though her coach is 1 tough cookie) and had a blast being back in the "all star" end of things. Well lo and behold, her old coach comes back to town and starts his own place. She stayed with the dance group this year, but I can tell she is going back and forth trying to decide if she wants to go back to cheer (where she is really mediocre at best) or stay in the dance end where she is one of the top dancers on her team. It is a very tough decision. AS you see, I still frequent the cheer boards (to get my fix), I love to watch cheerleading and I personally miss it. But she will be 12 next year and I have to let her decide what she feels she wants to do. Ultimately it will be a family decision, but she will drive that because she is the one who has to be committed to the practices and the team.
PS -- Its also that time of year where everybody seems to be on the fence. Do I stay next year or go, do I switch gyms or stay... My advice, wait -- this is a tough time of year -- wait till the end of the season, then make your decision.
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OC Mom, Mom of 5 great kids! A cheerleader/softball player, a RETIRED cheerleader, a football/baseball player, 1 Airman and future Police Officer and one college student!
My daughter is out with an injury this year and not sure if she will return next year. Oh no, what will I do? =) Maybe we should start a cheer parents without cheerleaders support group.
we could start the meeting out with Hi am susie and I am a former all star cheer mom. Ive been without cheer for 2 years. and instaed of clapping or snapping we could do spirit fingers with 5678 and then hit a hi v and say go susie.
we could start the meeting out with Hi am susie and I am a former all star cheer mom. Ive been without cheer for 2 years. and instaed of clapping or snapping we could do spirit fingers with 5678 and then hit a hi v and say go susie.
lol soooo funny
I am a recovering cheer mom. One year clean. I still get the urge, but am fighting it off. If I hear 5,6,7,8, I start twitching so I still need some work. My daughter is doing fine. She has learned not to do things that put me back like clapping ect. I have screamed a few times GO TEAM randomly but I am working through it.
