We try to have at least one parent at every game - home and away. One of our kids plays football and baseball. We also try to have a parent at every music performance of our other kid.

I think if most of us asked our kids they'd say they didn't care or don't want us at their games and events. But I also think that in the long run, it makes an impression to be there that they'll appreciate later. Or maybe secretly appreciate now.

We never make a big deal out of being there or try to intrude on the team dynamics and friendships by interacting with our kids, but it's important to us to be there when we can be.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think cheer parents attend every home game. My 9th grader played basketball and we did not attend games. Mostly they were after school.

Anyone else see the humor in cheer parents cheering for their children who are cheering for the athletes? Meanwhile the athletes’ parents don’t go to every game. The cheer dedication is hereditary, I guess.

I certainly do, but parents seem to go nuts when the topic of attending every game comes up.

When they did a study with the kids, nearly 40% wished their parents didn’t attend their games for a number of reasons.

Of course everyone on DCUM is in the 60%.

Anonymous wrote:Rising freshman DD has made our local hs JV cheer team. DH feels parents do not attend every game. Me on the other hand, am under the belief that it requires family time commitment so we should be at all of the away and home games. DH believes it’s not the case and if at most, attend some of the home games. Now, I wonder if I’m unrealistically thinking about this.

Did you attend all of your child’s games? Both home and away?

I attended every game, match, and performance that I was able to. Unless I was traveling for work, or spouse was traveling and each kid had a game at the same time and I could only be in one place at a time, I was there.

I was there because I wanted to be there to support my child and their team. One out of college and one in college, and I miss those days!

Anonymous wrote:Confused…are you attending cheer competitions or a team sport where your kid is cheering on the team?

I can’t imagine attending many of the latter.

I can't either but the demonstrations of cheer ARE at other competitions (basketball, football) so the sport in some ways is derivative, whether or not you agree it is or shuld be

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think cheer parents attend every home game. My 9th grader played basketball and we did not attend games. Mostly they were after school.

Anyone else see the humor in cheer parents cheering for their children who are cheering for the athletes? Meanwhile the athletes’ parents don’t go to every game. The cheer dedication is hereditary, I guess.

Humor? My friends have kids in all kinds of sports and activities, and they support their kids. For most, that looks like attending games/meets/events where they play or perform. I have a kid who cheers, and my kids have covered maybe five different sports between them. I attend their events to the extent I am able — I don’t care if they are competitive basket weaving. They are required to be active and involved, and I am happy to support them in that, whatever form that takes.

Anonymous wrote:I think cheer parents attend every home game. My 9th grader played basketball and we did not attend games. Mostly they were after school.

Anyone else see the humor in cheer parents cheering for their children who are cheering for the athletes? Meanwhile the athletes’ parents don’t go to every game. The cheer dedication is hereditary, I guess.