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Cheerleading Angst
Ah the bane of my existence. Cheerleading. Or perhaps it's more people in charge of cheerleading? Let's see. Where did we last leave our story? I guess I haven't really posted in this blog about cheerleading since my thrill over volunteering to organzie snacks.
Way back when I agreed to set up the snack schedule there was a conflict regarding one of the games. That game would be the game set for tomorrow, Tuesday October 2. On the schedule our dear coordinator handed out it said we were cheering on the 2nd, and on the website it said we were cheering on the 9th. I immediately called her for clarification asking which was correct and she assured me that the 2nd was the correct date.....
....you see where this is going, right?
So last Tuesday we are at the game cheering and it got called at half time because of lightening...and then the sky proceeded to open up and drench us all on our way back to our vehicles. We were soaked! While we are there I was talking to one of the mom's (because Princess had missed the Saturday game because of being out of town with her dad). She was ticked because at the Saturday game our lovely coordinator had let one of the team member's little sister's cheer. And we're talking one of the 1st grade team member's here so the little sister is like 4. Well, sure enough - they show up and again this little girl is in uniform and is down on the field! OH MY WORD! As if I'm not already steamed enough! Of course coordinator isn't there, our co-coach is there (you know, the 16 year old daughter of coordinator who doesn't even pay attention to the girls). For the 2nd time this season she let them cheer through a player being down on the field. At least some of us were mortified.
Then we got a call Thursday that we wouldn't be cheering on Saturday at all. No reason, just that we weren't cheering. Nice.
So tonight after practice I finally said "there's a game tomorrow, right?" To which (oh you'll be shocked) coordinator says "no not til next tuesday. Thankfully there was another mom there who said "the schedule you gave us says tomorrow, I just checked it because I sent a flyer out at school today for our annual pajama party which I scheduled for the 9th from 5:30-7:30" and do you know what the coordinator had the nerve to say to her? She said "oh it's ok if they miss the game, it's not a big deal". Right, after we already lost a game and a half? Nice, really nice.
I had to just walk out. And as I'm leaving she is telling the other mom "I'm not the one that makes the schedule" (which I know is a lie...she cannot ever step up and take responsibility for being wrong) I am STILL furious!
Poor Princess is just torn. She loves that she has 4 friends that are cheering with her and that is the only reason she keeps going back. But even she doesn't like being out there half the time. They basically let the girls run all over on the sidelines. They don't even make them show up 1/2 hour before the game to stretch or practice or anything. I know if her new friends weren't on the squad she wouldn't even want to go anymore. But right now, it's one thing that she has in common with girls at her new school and she is loving the fact that it helps her to fit in.
Me, I'm ready for this season to be over. Thankfully October 20 is practically around the corner!
pixiedustnme at 10:49:00 PM EDT Blog about this entry |
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Do you have any idea how to ruin a good children's program? Get the parents involved. There's a million mothers like your coach, and they have organized to screw up everything they touch. Good luck, the 20th is closer than you think.
Jude
http://journals.aol.com/Jmorancoyle/MyWay
P.S.: I'm so glad my kids are grown. -
I know exactly where you are coming from... I was a coach for my daughter's team and I had to drag these people to the games and drag the moms to get them to bring snacks and I was really organized and on top of it. Sounds like you are more organized than this coordinator person coach or whoever she is. I would have paid money to get a helper like you on my team!!!!! I don't even get a simple reminder call from Nick's coaches about hardly anything. To think of all the calls I made for those moms for the cheerleaders for every single practice and game. I made my squad stand in perfect formation.... and we always had easy warm up cheers first....they were not allowed to run all over the sidelines. And I stayed right with them to make sure they did what they were supposed to do. I had so much fun with them... it was my chance to be a kid again.... we had a blast. I miss it. Am thinking of starting up a squad for Courtney's age up here. There isn't one anywhere... sigh. Hugs,
Lisa -
I'm sure Princess is having fun with her friends... but I know I like to know the plan and the correct date of things, especially if it is a school function.... cause it's not alright if the kids are late for class or don't even show, right.....
Deep Breaths....
Linda :) -
Yes, someone else said it first but I must repeat that it sure looks like you lovely daughter (she is a cutie) is having fun. We adults seem to take everything so seriously. The kids, I sense, just roll with punches and hve their onw fun. They don't see the problems as we tend to.
It is great for parents to be envolved but try to relax and flow with the tide.
So advice, from a grandfather and father of four of each,
for what it is worth. It works for me. Good luck, Bill
10/9/07 5:22 AM