Would you be okay with your dd being a cheerleader?

[Anonymous]

At first I was against it, extremely against it. DD has done it for a few years now, All Star and High School. She loves it. I am also from Europe so hated the idea, yes in Europe we think cheerleaders are like in movies. Yet, now she is amazing in her skills, tumbling, flying and loves it. I've watched many other teams and she was so lucky that her school has unbelievable cheer team, they would be high level All Star team, and outshine the football team at every game. I didn't see another team like hers yet around DC that is not All Star. As for her team and All Star team it wasn't anything I thought it would be, it is extremely athletic, acrobatic as well, and extremely tough. I wish that it was scholarship sport for Colleges. The only part I don't like is that some moms are crazy, sorry. I know we can all get carried away, and most moms are great, but there were a few "dance moms" copies and that is hard to deal with. I avoid that at all cost.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the bigger problem for your child is her nasty and judgemental mother.

This + 1 million

[Anonymous]

no. it's silly and not a real lifelong sport like swimming, tennis or soccer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was an athlete so I'd prefer she actually play rather than cheer. That just wasn't my thing and I can't relate. But if that's what she wanted to do I'd support it.

Cheerleading now is so much more demanding and athletic than a lot of other sports, including softball, baseball and volleyball.

[Anonymous]

Any mother who refers to an activity as "how trashy and degrading" is going to have far more damaging to her kid than cheerleading.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd be horrified if my dd decided to become a cheerleader. What a trashy and degrading thing to do.

What if I told you that my SON cheerleaded (is that even a word?!) for...hold on to your hat...Harvard? And that he got to travel to a bunch of places and meet a bunch of people he probably otherwise would not have?

Or is it just trashy and degrading when the girls do it?

I'm still waiting for an answer to this.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't be thrilled, because I come from the gymnastics world and I'm knowledgeable enough to see that most teams allow their kids to chuck skills with terrible technique - to the point that it's downright dangerous. I'm not thrilled about the culture of the sport (short skirts and shirts and spandex and heavy makeup) but it's really the safety issues that bother me most. Not that gymnastics doesn't cause its fair share of injuries as well, but the risks are minimized thanks to proper technique and a gradual learning process that allows true mastery of each skill.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:no. it's silly and not a real lifelong sport like swimming, tennis or soccer.

Very few people are still playing soccer on anything resembling a regular basis by the time they are in their 40s.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd be horrified if my dd decided to become a cheerleader. What a trashy and degrading thing to do.

You're just a horrible mom, OP.

[Anonymous]

You sound extremely sexist, OP. I feel bad for your daughter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At first I was against it, extremely against it. DD has done it for a few years now, All Star and High School. She loves it. I am also from Europe so hated the idea, yes in Europe we think cheerleaders are like in movies. Yet, now she is amazing in her skills, tumbling, flying and loves it. I've watched many other teams and she was so lucky that her school has unbelievable cheer team, they would be high level All Star team, and outshine the football team at every game. I didn't see another team like hers yet around DC that is not All Star. As for her team and All Star team it wasn't anything I thought it would be, it is extremely athletic, acrobatic as well, and extremely tough. I wish that it was scholarship sport for Colleges. The only part I don't like is that some moms are crazy, sorry. I know we can all get carried away, and most moms are great, but there were a few "dance moms" copies and that is hard to deal with. I avoid that at all cost.

Anonymous wrote:At first I was against it, extremely against it. DD has done it for a few years now, All Star and High School. She loves it. I am also from Europe so hated the idea, yes in Europe we think cheerleaders are like in movies. Yet, now she is amazing in her skills, tumbling, flying and loves it. I've watched many other teams and she was so lucky that her school has unbelievable cheer team, they would be high level All Star team, and outshine the football team at every game. I didn't see another team like hers yet around DC that is not All Star. As for her team and All Star team it wasn't anything I thought it would be, it is extremely athletic, acrobatic as well, and extremely tough. I wish that it was scholarship sport for Colleges. The only part I don't like is that some moms are crazy, sorry. I know we can all get carried away, and most moms are great, but there were a few "dance moms" copies and that is hard to deal with. I avoid that at all cost.

Believe it or not, it is a scholarship sport. My cousin's daughter receives a scholarship for cheerleading at a division 1 school. It is a university with a strong cheerleading program. It's football and basketball teams often get national tv coverage (they are on ESPN instead of a local channel).

[Anonymous]

I'd be thrilled if my daughter were a cheerleader.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did you know the Dubya Bush was a cheerleader and he went on to become the president of the United States of America.

wait! was it Nixon? I just might google and verify.

definitely not points in cheerleadings' favor ;P

Eh, my mom was so upset when I came home and said I wanted to be a cheerleader in 4th grade, but she kept that shit to myself because she liked to let me decide on activities. I did it for several years and really enjoyed it. Only did half a season in HS because I wanted to do marching band instead.

My child has brought it up, but she has so many other activities and I truly do not want to give up THAT much more time. She's doing ballet, which is much more active than the sideline cheerleading for peewee leagues that I did (and she wants to do).

Several of her friends are into the competitive stuff, which I said absolutely not to. That's a lifestyle.

Not to derail this thread, but do you really find ballet more active than sideline cheering? My daughter does ballet and it does not seem very active at all. I've been thinking about suggesting cheering because it seems like much better exercise. I have encouraged soccer and more traditional sports in the past, but she is only interested in the girly stuff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd be horrified if my dd decided to become a cheerleader. What a trashy and degrading thing to do.

What if I told you that my SON cheerleaded (is that even a word?!) for...hold on to your hat...Harvard? And that he got to travel to a bunch of places and meet a bunch of people he probably otherwise would not have?

Or is it just trashy and degrading when the girls do it?

I'm still waiting for an answer to this.

I would be humiliated if my son did it too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't be thrilled, because I come from the gymnastics world and I'm knowledgeable enough to see that most teams allow their kids to chuck skills with terrible technique - to the point that it's downright dangerous. I'm not thrilled about the culture of the sport (short skirts and shirts and spandex and heavy makeup) but it's really the safety issues that bother me most. Not that gymnastics doesn't cause its fair share of injuries as well, but the risks are minimized thanks to proper technique and a gradual learning process that allows true mastery of each skill.

+1