Cheerleading? - Page 2

[~*max*~]

Sounds like you handled it well. How did she take it?

[Suzannah]

Originally Posted by ~*max*~

Sounds like you handled it well. How did she take it?

Well, the good news is that we never told her about this latest opportunity to sign up for cheerleading, so we don't really have to break any news to her.

The bad news is I feel like I'm being deceptive, but I guess I need to get over that; it's a parental decision based on more experience and what I feel is best. I know that she will continue to request cheerleading, so I think I will try to find another program over the summer that emphasizes the dance aspects.

[trinity6232000]

cheer-activities-kinda OT

This is something that came up between myself and dd who is FOUR. I didn't think I would have to deal with this issue until HS. Dd takes dance at a local dance studio. I have a rule about activities (two a week for organized activities), I am not about to EVER be driving here and there 4-+ days a week. I am lucky that this studio runs many of their classes together by age. So dd was able to take gymnastics, ballet, then tap, all in one evening. Meaning that for now, we only have one organized activity planned a week.

A couple weeks ago dd saw the other girls walking in to do a cheer class and asked if she could do that too. I said "Oh hon, those are the big girls, we will have to wait till your older". Hoping that would satisfy her. Then another Mom piped in "OH NO they start Cheer at age 5, aren't you turning 5 soon honey?". lol.
Well lucky for me (again) dd has expressed a deep interest in Karate so I said it was one or the other, and she decided Karate was better than cheer.

What has been the issue with me (not a large issue, just something I think about) is that my dd is just so different than I am. I knew she would be her own person and I honor that, but we are like night and day. I would have NEVER asked my mother to be involved with anything organized and when my parents suggested it I fought it all the way. I had no desire to wear a uniform, or play sports on a team. I used to play softball and soccer with friends after school, but other than that I was just as happy reading or taking long walks threw my neighborhood.
It's just so different than my childhood. We also didn't have so many activities available to us at such a young age. During dance the mothers all sit in a lounge area and talk and when I overhear their conversations about running here, running there, EVERY EVENING? It scares me truthfully.
Like I said most of my days after school were spent playing outside. Creating an adventure with the neighborhood kids. I have memories of water balloon fights, sled riding, kids running over to my yard cause I had a slip and slide, or just hanging out. It's important to me that we have dinner together, at the table every night.
I have a child and all a sudden I am invited to "play dates" and to join tumbling groups. I am lucky to know a group of AP mom's and we get together once a week spring threw fall at the park. Where the kids can just run and play. Is it just me, or has the whole world gone crazy?
I don't know sorry for ranting on this and going OT, but it's just so much has changed, and I don't know if I like it.

[Ellien C]

Originally Posted by Mere

:LOL

I totally agree with everything you said Ellien, but there would always be this tinge of fear that my daughter might not get it, even if we talked about it to death. I guess this is where the hard, "letting go" part of parenting comes in...

Did I forget to mention that my one kid is like 2?! Check back with me in 10 years and see what I say then

[momea]

Hey there - I just want to support you in that, at this stage of your daughter's life, this is completely your decision.

I wouldn't let my dd do cheerleading until she was much much older. I just think at this young of an age it's near to impossible to undo any crap that gets into their little heads.

I always liked how Dr. Sears described children and priviledges (choosing to participate in an activity my husband and I don't approve of is definitely a priviledge in our house! ) - hopefully you've read this because I *know* I will butcher this ... but it seems to me he basically says that the older children get, the more say they have. This makes sense to me.

It makes sense to me to give yourself and your daughter a little time to put what you want and what's healthy into her head so that if she does choose to do cheerleading at an older age she will have those attitudes to use if she chooses. Does that make sense?

How many times can I use the word "sense" in one post?

Good luck - and it does begin young doesn't it? - the hard decisions like this, I mean. I hate it when I get blindsided by these issues - it sounds like you did a great job thinking on your feet

Eve

[Suzannah]

Thanks for that post; DD and I just had a long discussion about Bratz and princesses and being pretty. I just don't remember being so girly myself!! I am torn between really trying to listen to her and disagreeing so very fundamentally with what she is saying. It's rough, and I'm not ready!!

[moondiapers]

My dd is signing up to cheer for PopWarner, which doesn't allow bare midriffs or sexual inuendo. They cheer at the football games and go to cheer/dance competitions. It's not just a girly girly sport anymore. The squad that we're signing up with has more boys signing up every year.


-Heather