Should You Enroll Your Kid in Another Season of Cheer? 5 Honest Questions to Ask Yourself
Another season of cheer is coming up, and here you are, staring at the tryout packet, wondering if you should just sign it or use that uniform budget to buy a designer bag you actually get to use. Cheerleading is a full-time lifestyle—for your child and for you. So before you dive into another year of rhinestone-studded chaos, ask yourself these five brutally honest questions:
1. Is my child still obsessed with cheer, or are we just doing this out of habit?
Remember when your kid would use the living room furniture to practice their tumbling skills? Does that still happen, or have they started responding to practice announcements with a dramatic sigh and an “ugh, do I have to?” If they still light up when they hit the mat, great. If they’d rather be anywhere else, maybe it’s time to rethink things. You are not legally required to keep paying for an activity they no longer love. I checked.
2. Can we commit to the time and financial demands without losing our minds?
Cheer is not a sport for the faint of heart—or the light of wallet. There are many commitments that come with competitive cheer, like travel expenses, private lessons, and of course, the emergency Starbucks runs required to survive 6 a.m. competition meet times. If you’re already considering taking out a second mortgage for this season, it might be time to reassess. Also, do you really want to spend another year scheduling your entire life around weekend competitions? Be honest.
3. Is this team still the right fit for my kid?
Not all gyms are created equal. Some are super supportive, and some have you side-eyeing the coaching staff like, “Is this cheer or a reality show about survival?” If your child isn’t progressing, isn’t feeling supported, or is dealing with gym drama that makes The Real Housewives look tame, it might be time to switch things up. The right environment makes all the difference.
4. Can our family survive another season of this?
Let’s be real—cheerleading doesn’t just affect your cheerleader. It affects everyone. Your other kids have probably learned to fend for themselves in hotel lobbies. Your spouse might be wondering if they’ll ever get a weekend that doesn’t involve hearing “one three five seven!” And your dog? He barely remembers what you look like. If cheer is starting to take over your family dynamic in a not great way, you might want to have a serious discussion about taking a step back. Maybe this involves a half year team, signing up for a prep team, or taking a year off to focus on other things.
5. What’s the actual benefit for my kid?
Yes, they get stronger, more disciplined, and develop friendships that sometimes last longer than their love of cheer bows. But at the end of the day, what’s the goal? If they love it, if they’re growing as an athlete and a person, and if they’re genuinely having fun, then the endless hours of conditioning (for them) and listening to audio books in the car (for you) might be worth it. If not? There’s a whole world of activities out there that don’t require you to spend your life savings on matching warmups.
The Bottom Line:
If your kid is still in love with cheer and you’re all-in for another year of insane schedules and overpriced competition hairpieces, then congratulations! You’re officially signing up for another round of cheer mom (or dad) life. If not? That’s okay too. There are plenty of ways for your child to be active and happy without requiring you to sell pictures of your feet on the internet.
So, are we doing this again or what? No pressure. (Okay, maybe a little pressure.)
By: Kristen Wheeler
The Cheer Mom
https://thecheermomblog.com/about/
