Allstars isn't for everyone

In my last post I mentioned that Izzey has been 4 types of 'cheerleader.' Currently she is both a sideline AND competition cheerleader for her school team, but first - she was an "ALL-STAR." Her first all-star team was run by the same gym she'd taken gymnastics from for years. It was a very small program, we travelled locally (the furthest away was a 3 hour drive - still a potential day trip), and the parents had alot of input. Cheer was not the focus at that gym however - gymnastics was - & after Izzey decided that was the way she wanted to go, we found a bigger, cheer and dance gym. Our departure was also spurred by the fact that her first gym was not going to HAVE a cheer team the next year. The following year, we got the "True All-Star experience." It was very different, and difficult... mostly for me. Izzey liked travelling, the make-up, etc - but it was not her best year for cheerleading & developing her skills. The monetary costs outweighed her personal growth, in my mind, & I had a very hard time accepting that decisions would be made by coaches, who had the best interests of the team in mind - as opposed to the best interests of my daughter. There. I said it. I'm a certified "Momma Bear." The coaches are very good, and she not only still tumbles at this gym, she is a dancer there - I simply was not cut out to be an All-Star Cheer Mom. Some of my closest friends are however, & constantly ask me why Izzey hasn't come back. The answer is - I am not cut out for it. One day, she may go back, but right now we are enjoying school cheer & dance at the gym.

ALL Cheerleaders like Goody Bags!

Back in the day, when I was in school, there was ONLY one type of cheerleader... the type that cheered at the football games! The pretty girls, who always smiled, wore the cute outfits, & tried to get the crowd excited about what the football players were doing on the field. Not so today! In my world, there is at least FOUR types of cheerleaders - & Izzey has been them all! She started off as a "Rec All-star." And this is where I was introduced to goody-bags for cheerleaders. Her team wasn't doing so well, & some of us parents asked the coach what we could do to help our kids enjoy it more - not be so upset when they did poorly. After that year, we moved on to a "true All-Star" team - & the booster club provided the bags... & you guessed it, those that knew me from the previous year, asked me to volunteer to work on them. THAT was an experience! Last year, we decided to take a break from All-Stars, because Izzey was now old enough to try out for her school team. At Izzeys' school they have BOTH sideline cheerleaders - AND competition cheerleaders! To be on the competition team, you must first make the sideline team. Turns out, school competition cheerleaders do goody-bags too! And although it's different, no competitons, the sideline cheerleaders like little goody bags for parties, fundraisers, etc. So today, I am in my second year as a school sideline AND competition cheer mom - & you guessed it, I'm involved in the goody-bags!