When Princess E told me she wanted to join competitive cheer, I thought, “Sure, how hard could it be?” Hahahaha spoiler alert: It’s REALLY HARD! Little did I know this journey would mean balancing my life as a working mom and as the baseball team mom, rethinking everything I thought I knew about the sport of cheerleading, and bracing myself for the sparkly social tornado that is an all-girls cheer team. Buckle up, because this mom was not ready!
Cheer Practice at 4 PM: A Working Mom’s Struggle
To all the moms who juggle a work schedule with a sport like cheerleading that starts at 4 p.m. – let’s form a support group. With practices a full 20 minutes from home, getting Eleanor there on time (in the correct practice uniform with the cheer shoes AND practice bow!) has become my new Olympic event. As a mom who values her career but also wants to be present for both children’s activities, it’s been a struggle to accept that I can’t always be the mom who’s front and center at every warm-up, stretch, and prep. Most cheer practice days go something like “hurry up, we are late!” and then rushing in to connect to the gym’s WiFi and finishing my work day (that ends at 5pm). And when that little voice inside nags, “Are you doing enough?” I have to remind myself that working to provide opportunities for her is also part of being present – even if I’m sometimes I’m watching my laptop screen instead of practice.
Cheerleading is Definitely a Sport
If you’re still imagining cheer as just pom-poms and cartwheels, prepare for a mind shift. I’ve had a front-row seat to the Squad’s hours of conditioning, strength training, and all-out flying through the air. She’s strength training, mastering tumbles, and building core strength that puts my workout plans to shame. Competitive cheer is no joke, and these athletes have physical and mental stamina that’s honestly mind-blowing. Watching Princess E improve, become stronger (even strong, she’s already freakishly strong), and hit new stunts has been incredible – and yes, I’m definitely taking notes on her core workouts for myself.
The Time Commitment: Welcome to Our Second Home
Cheer isn’t just a sport; it’s a lifestyle. Practice is twice times a week, plus one tumbling class, and that’s not even counting the events, fundraisers, and team bonding. I swear we spend more time at the gym than in our own living room. Weekends have transformed into either team bonding or practice intensives or open gym time, and honestly, I miss my old Saturday ritual of sitting with coffee and a book. But seeing Eleanor’s happiness and confidence grow makes all the car dinners and scheduling headaches feel worth it.
The Social Side of Cheer: Glitter, Grit, and Group Texts
Now, I knew cheer was going to be girly, but I did not anticipate the sheer amount of sparkle and spirit bows involved. This sport has its own social world – one filled with mom group chats, hair tutorials, bedazzled pins, makeup advice (what!?), and bonding events. And as a not exactly the most Pinterest-y mom, it’s been a bit overwhelming. Eleanor, on the other hand, loves it all. She’s making friends, bonding with teammates, and getting a healthy dose of female camaraderie that will hopefully stay with her for life. And maybe, just maybe, I’m starting to appreciate the fun side of it too – even if I don’t know a triple-twist aerial from a roundoff. Also, if anyone has any tips on age-appropriate stage make up, can we meet a Sephora?
Eleanor’s Strength and Determination
Despite my insecurities and struggles to keep up, it all comes down to this: Princess E absolutely loves cheer, and she’s good at it. She’s strong – and I mean built strong – which gives her an edge in those crazy, high-energy routines. Watching her grow into herself, physically and mentally, is one of the biggest joys of my life. If cheer continues to bring her this much confidence and joy, I’m ready to be the mom who cheers from the sidelines, makes snack bags, and begrudgingly learns how to tie a perfect bow. Please don’t ask how many practice tanks and bows we have already lost.
So here’s to the start of my competitive cheer mom journey – with all the traffic-stressed drives, glitter explosions, and proud moments I never knew I’d love so much. Cheers! 🥤
