Stupid.........

Date: Tue Oct 4 3:27 PM, 2005

RE: Stupid.........

Date: Wed Oct 5 12:09 PM, 2005

IF I OFFENDED ANY OF THE MOTHERS WITH MY ROOD POST, THAT WAS NOT THE POINT, IM SORRY! PROPS FOR BEING ABLE TO MANNAGE A HOUSE HOLD AND YOUR KIDS! CHEERGYMS IS A WONDERFUL PROGRAM, I WOULD NEVER WANT TO GO ANYWHERE ELSE, SOMTIMES PEOPLE JUST GET FRUSTERATED............GOODLUCK EVERYONE W/ YOUR TRAVELS THIS YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Date: Wed Oct 5 1:43 PM, 2005

It was very very nice of you to apologize. We were a bit more worried about how you felt than anything. Work hard and please make sure you talk to your coaches about how you feel cause EVERYTHING is workable. U shouldn't feel shut out or neglected... EVER.

PS It's rude not rood. I kept reading root... lmao

Date: Wed Oct 5 3:51 PM, 2005

I think one of the solutions for this year is to have the team moms arrange team dinners or get-togethers at the travel competitions. That way the kids, coaches and parents have that opportunity to bond.

Has anyone asked the team parents if they have already thought of this and if not could they consider trying to make some arrangements? Each team is supposed to have a team parent and this would be a great opportunity to make a difference and make this work.

And parents, help out those official team parents if they ask. They can't do it all on their own.

Signed
Parent looking for solutions rather than complaining

Date: Wed Oct 5 4:12 PM, 2005

Thank you Nelson and all the the parents, all stars and staff that try to look at eveything from outside the cheergyms.com box. Decisions like the one we made with travel was very hard and took months of meetings, forums and phone calls to make the final decision. I hope the bonding, that I have always felt was extremely important, is happening at the retreats, Christmas Party, special nights out and other get-to-gethers the families, cheerleaders and staff can arrange.

For the families that are having problems with the new travel system, I hope the cheergyms.com family will unite to help them out.

Thanks again for al the support.

Date: Sat Oct 8 12:07 PM, 2005

i believe that danny and morton made the decision they thought would be not only best for the program, but for the cheerleaders as well. team bonding not only happens in a hotel room or on a bus, but in practices where people are sweating, sore, tired, thirsty...and have 3 more run-throughs. bonding happens after an amazing performance on the competition floor, when someone gets knocked down but gets up and continues..when the team as a whole decides where they want to take their own season, how far they want to go. although i can understand why alot of people are upset about not traveling together, i believe that the majority of team bonding happens on the practice floor. i completely support this decision made by the cheerygms.com staff.

Date: Sun Oct 9 8:48 PM, 2005

I would like to know what " Good Idea" does as a fundraiser on her own to raise the monies needed to travel with her child.
I would also like to point out to a few of you with younger children that not all of the cheerleaders are so young that they need or want the parents constant involvement in this program. Some are young adults trying to step out and make a stand on their own, as is the case of "You Know Who". In spite of the anger displayed, many good points were made. This is a very clicky organization. Some kids have been in the same gym together for some time and on the same team while others have had to make sacrafices like loosing their gym and traveling distances that make it even more difficult to to continue with such a sport. I admire the tight existing freindships but you might imagine how a family might feel entering into a group that already has a buddy to share a room with or a best friend to travel with. Why get to know anyone else if you don't have to? I did not see in any of these postings anger towards Morton or Danny as some seem to have suggested. But I know that this is a business and if one wants to promote or enlist more members that it at least needs to be member friendly; and this means making the new comers welcome.

Date: Mon Oct 10 12:34 AM, 2005

If I gave away my fundraiser, then everyone would know who I am and this topic kinda makes me NOT want to share. I don't want anyone being angry with me for any reason. Lets just say it's totally legal and done outside the gym so I don't have to share my profits.

One can
1. Have garage sales
2. Have their child sell homemade goods outside a store
3. Get donations from family, friends and businesses
4. Babysit (the child of course)
5. Work at McDonalds two nights a week
6. Sit outside a Starbucks on a Saturday morning and get donations
7. Make crafts for people
8. Mow lawns

The ideas are endless. I found one that works for me and it's taking alot of my time to do, but I will enjoy my trip with my child.

PS: As of this weekend, I now also raised enough for our hotel. Now for spending money. Boy am I tired already!!! But I am almost done!

PSS: I asked my child if she wants me there and she thinks I am crazy for even asking. She said it wouldn't be the same if I wasn't. So all this extra time has been sooooooo worth it!!! And she's old enough to go alone!!!

Date: Mon Oct 10 10:31 AM, 2005

Thank You for sharing your ideas on fundraising. I do believe that my child would also like for me to go but with the plane tickets at $400.00 each and the room being another $300.00 makes it rather tough for a single working mother. I too want the best for my child and am happy that in general the environment of Cheergyms gives her a great place to be so I make certain sacrafices. I admire your resourcefulness but I hope you understand that for some the complications of life aren't always easily solved with a good hearty cheer.

Date: Mon Oct 10 3:48 PM, 2005

Oh I understand completly. I also am a single mother of 5 and it's so tough at times. Especially when you don't have the help of another parent. Being resourceful is the ONLY way to be!!! But you CAN find cheaper flights. Check other airports and such. I found one for under 300 roundtrip but out of another city. I have to get a ride but that's ok. I am also rooming with someone and so that saves alot. (secret: Kids can sleep on inflatables.... shhhhhhhh don't tell anyone) You just cut corners EVERYWHERE and it will work out. But you have to do it now cause it's already going to be too late at the end of this month. Trust me ALL is possible if you put your mind to it!!! It takes alot of hard work and late nights sometimes but I look at it as a mini vacation for myself also! Atlanta wouldn't have been my FIRST choice.... Hawaii might have been up there. But there will be lots of loving parents to hang out with at the cheap places to eat, so I think it should be so much fun!

Date: Tue Oct 11 6:07 AM, 2005

As the parent of a CG alumni, I say Kudos to GOOD IDEA and all of the parents that are sacrificeing and scraping to go to these events!! Trust me, the time goes by sooo fast, and it's worth cherishing and enjoying while you can!! When it's all done and several years down the road, all the hard work and late nights will be a distant memory, but the good time with your kids will be irreplaceable. You'll also get to see the positive results of those character building lessons that cheering brings. =-) Have fun.

Date: Tue Oct 11 8:27 AM, 2005

Thanks so much for the kind words and support. All of us want what's best for our kids and if it means going on every trip or allowing them room to grow by letting them go alone, we each know what's best for them. (or at least we hope we do) But it's words like yours that give us the courage to keep on "scraping" to get by. I truly think teens these days get a bad rap and I for one LOVE being around them. They ar so funny, outgoing, energenic and happy people if we just listen to them. I for one wouldn't MISS a second of my teens life and she's told me that she wants me here. But then again, I don't butt in or do anything but just be there. She can go off if she wants and do what she wants but knows I am waiting in the wings. And the funniest part is, guess who comes running back every time something fun happens or something great is accomplished. Yep, I'm still first on her list but I just have to realize that sometimes I have to let her come to me instead. There's a fine line and the both of us step over it from time to time, but that happens and we just forgive each other and move on.

If you can go with your kid. Go. Scrape the money together and go. Even if you are watching from the sidelines, they still want you there. They want their freedom to enjoy it with their friends, but to have their parents witness their joys is priceless. They won't be just telling you about it, they know that you are there. Then enjoy the other parents as well. You are all in this together. Support each other. Just like the last parent said, it will be gone before we know it.

Date: Wed Oct 12 2:00 PM, 2005

As I pointed out, we are new to this gym and do not have the network or friendships established yet. I have posted a request for room sharing but have not received any replys. I'm still hoping.

Date: Wed Oct 12 2:08 PM, 2005

By the way "Good Idea" where did you get a ticket for under $300? I searched for hrs and $372 was the best I could come up with.

Date: Wed Oct 12 2:46 PM, 2005

don't get discouraged "Outsider"....a lot of people don't read the message board, I'm sure something will work out. You should have your child check around at their gym and talk to teammates about their travel plans...they might find someone in the same boat as you!!

Date: Wed Oct 12 3:37 PM, 2005

It's hard and expensive to make all these arrangments isn't it? Makes you realize what a great deal and service we had been getting all these years. D & M, I don't know how you did it.

SK

Date: Thu Oct 13 9:41 AM, 2005

I found that it was much cheaper to book the flight and hotel together as a package. I used Expedia.com and got flights (non-stop) for 2 and 3 nights at a great hotel for about $900. Good luck!!!

Date: Sat Oct 29 2:23 PM, 2005

I have three kids travelling this year and another cheering for two teams in Southern California! I also love my kids and wish I could be there with each of them every time they compete. it is however not possible. my husband and I have three other kids at home and the entire family cannot manage this endeavour financially.

I rarely make it to practice, once in a while I check in with Nelson, Danny or Morton. And I still love my kids. I don't feel like I or they are missing out. We each do our best.

Amac, Alex, Kyle and Kirstie, I love you! You guys will do great, with or without me!

Louise.