Nightmares of Days Past...and Varsity

This morning I was awoken by nightmares of my past. Was it some horrible thing I had done? It was a small framed man...a man from my past. Unfortunately, it was a former professor who had his doctorate in philosophy. He was looking at me with that same look he did over 20 years ago when I sat in his classroom at a small liberal arts college. You see, the dear man was all about critical thinking and writing for a reason. 

"Why are you writing this? What is the purpose? What are you trying to do? Where are your facts?", he said in my dream. His face was all scrunched up just like I remember. He was not one to hand out compliments because he wanted perfection. The problem was that he believed perfection was not attainable. Your battle with him was lost the second you walked in the door. At first I wondered why I could be dreaming of college? Then I quickly figured it out. 

I have been thinking a lot about Varsity Sports. How could I not? It is in my inbox, Facebook, website...everywhere I go. I know I am not happy, but exactly what am I not happy about? I am doing all this research, but what is my END GOAL? 

I have been around long enough to realize that cheerleading is not the first or last corporate idea that someone has come up with, ran with and turned into a major money maker.....an empire. I work in technology, surrounded by men (I think that is why I enjoy Cheer Moms so much!), we have an ongoing debate. We are passionate about our operating systems and will argue until we pass out in defense of them. I am a Windows user. A good friend of mine believes Bill Gates, the pioneer of Windows, is the devil reincarnate! One day I had enough of him and said, "I could care less if he is the devil, he makes products that work, he makes the products I need to make my business work, so therefore he will continue to get my business!...Is Microsoft perfect? Lord no! If they were, I wouldn't have so many people calling needing computers fixed, databases corrected and the such. Note to self: Make sure Microsoft never becomes "perfect"!

I digress...this all relates back to Varsity. Actually they are a good comparison to Microsoft. They have the market cornered. You have to play nice with them, or pretty much be alone in your own little sandbox. Is it fair? No. Are there people starting to nip at Microsoft's heals? YES! 

This morning I have finally figured out why I am doing so much research about Varsity and why I care. Varsity needs some nipping at the heals. I can't do it alone, but I can be one voice providing accurate information to a group of people. If enough people get informed, then maybe....just maybe, change can come. Can we do it overnight? Of course not! Look how long it has taken Cheerleading to become what it is today? Look at how long Microsoft has dominated the market! 

Cheer Moms! started out as something fun. It hit me today. Together we can become something. We can become informed advocates for OUR children. We can learn together, share together and put all our single voices together and make a roar! Albeit right now we are a small tiger trying out our roar...but I am ready to give it a go. Are you? 

Today I am just going to be a mom. I am going to clean the house before there is a rebellion and organize my thoughts. Then, I will put all my information together and share it with my favorite group...Cheer Moms! 

God bless his soul, he lost a battle to cancer, but I hope their is one professor looking down smiling today, because he still is with me over twenty years later! I hope I do you proud. 

Is Everyone a Winner...Seriously?!

I was talking to my sister in law several weeks ago about our children. We were discussing sports, imagine that! I asked how my nephew was doing in soccer. She informed me that the leagues they were in didn't keep score. I was taken a back by the statement. "How do you tell who wins? How do you tell who loses?", I ask. She replied, "We don't." They live several states away. I found the concept to be interesting to say the least. No losers...no winners. 


Here where we live every sport has winners and losers. We even kept score at t-ball games, granted it wasn't on a huge scoreboard for all to see, but when my son ran into home base he definitely wanted to know he put a run on the books. 


This got me to pondering quite a few things. The main one that runs into my mind is what are we teaching our children? Are we teaching them that everyone is a winner? Unless I have walked into the twilight zone, life is full of winners and losers. It is a hard, true fact of life. You win some, you lose some. More importantly, if you want to win you work. You work HARD. You put in the effort, the time, the blood, sweat and tears to become a winner no matter what you are doing. My daughter does it every night she walks into the gym to cheer or tumble. Both of my kids make me laugh on a daily basis....but when they say, "Hey mom, look at the sweat!" I know there is a deeper meaning to that. They want me to know they gave it their best. I am proud to say their attitude flows over into school, home and most things that they do. Are they perfect? Of course not! If they were I wouldn't be rushing to clean up my son's room before the window repair man gets her to replace the window he knocked out with a baseball! 


When I send my children out into the world, will they automatically be put on the Dean's List in college? When they go for their first job, will they receive a check if they choose not to do the work? Will they ever get a promotion if they just "kind of" try? I don't think so. As a parent it is my job to prepare my kids for LIFE. Life is not easy at times, actually with all the responsibilities it can be downright hard. Sometimes, it isn't even fair...yet another concept that sports has taught them. I want them to know that. 


If we are teaching our children that everyone is a winner.........what are we really teaching them? 


As always....just my opinion! 


Lisa

Yes, I am a cheer mom...and?????

I have a confession to make. I am a Cheer Mom.. It hit me yesterday when the doctor said my daughter could have mono. The first thought that ran through my head was, "I hate it when my children are sick!" I will be honest...it was immediately followed by, "Oh man..how much practice will she miss?!" 


Cheer moms seem to have a bit of a rap...especially us All-Star moms!  Are we all over the top, overweight women who "wanted" to be cheerleaders? My answer is no! Most of the women I have been fortunate to meet over the last few months are moms just like me. Their child has found something they love to do and they are supporting it! If you see me on a daily basis you know I am the pony tail sporting, casual clothes kind of mom. Right now I am at the ball field or the gym with one of my kids....I have no desire to dress to the "max" when I am going to be a sweaty, dusty mess! I am a happy jean and sweatshirt wearing mom on most days. 


Am I a "wanna be"? I did cheerleading, gymnastics and other sports when my body was much younger. ;) I have been there, done that, I am old...and now I get to watch. OK, I will admit it....I went out for cheerleading one year because I had my eye on a really cute football player...and it worked. :0)


Am I pushing my child to hit the gym multiple nights a week to get that all important "JACKET"?! My crystal ball says the only jacket she will be getting in the near future is the one I run out to the mall to buy for fall when the weather gets cooler. She is wailing today wanting to know when she can get back to the gym actually. She wants to support her team, even if she is just sitting. I must say I am proud of her for that. 


Am I putting my child in suggestive clothing, too much makeup and fake hair to improve her self esteem....to make her have an over inflated ego that will blow up in her face? Lord, I hope not! She wears a full top, and shows little skin in comparison to some girls I see at the mall. As far as the makeup and hair goes...well it is just fun! She has enough self esteem and attitude for the both of  us, the last thing I need to do is give her more! 


The bottom line is this. Both of my children have picked activities that they love. They both work equally hard at becoming the best they can be. They work their tails off!  I support them both equally. I learn all I can about what they are doing. That is my responsibility as a mom! If it is the chess team tomorrow...then watch out. Here I come! Do I get to make banners, and bling out hair ribbons for the chess team?