I am sooo grateful

My daughter is opening her own studio!!! An epic achievement and risk in equal measures for such a young woman! At only 20 she has built her business to the point where it demands the space! With classes starting in early May, there is much to be done before we are ready!

I am a naturally authoritative person, with a strong need to be in charge and make sure that everything is perfect, especially when it comes to my daughters. Somehow though I am feeling less pressure with this situation, even though it is the biggest thing my eldest child has ever done without a doubt!

This I think boils down to 2 reasons:

1. We have an insanely dedicated army of parents ready to help. Weather it is painting, cleaning, moving and colleccti9ng things or cheering us on, we are covered as a program. This in itself is a massive boost, knowing that so many people support her in her quest to make a safe space for the children of Bridlington and the surrounding districts. In todays world self confidence does not come easily for our teenagers. They have lived through so much more than we had to.

   Constant contact with the outside world and all its cruelness through the internet and social media platforms, schools that have an ever more constricting way of "educating" our next generation by the minute, the insanely unorganised government we are currently experiencing, not to the mention the fact their young lives were turned upside down and backwards by "the vid"!

   Despite, or perhaps because of this, we have formed a family of like minded individuals and their children, and they are all more than happy to help! I am beyond ecstatic at their generosity and kindness, and our team really is something unique in the way it navigates the journey of its athletes.

2. My daughter. Just her being her. Quite simply it comes down to her inherent belief in what she is building, and how she wants it to be! She has experienced so much amazing coaching in her 18 years, and equally importantly some not so great coaching. All these experiences have helped her know what she was dreaming when she created Phoenix. There is only 1 thing between a dream and a plan, and that's a timeline. Once you add a timeline to a dream, it becomes achievable.

   I have of course encouraged her to follow her dreams all her life. I have "bigged" her up, plugged the holes in her self confidence and had her back all the way, with just about anything she has done. I have ALWAYS told her to do what you love, the money will follow, and I have immense pride in the young adult she has become. Because of her tenacious attitude, and her unwavering belief in what she was creating, she has succeeded where so many others have failed. It has not been easy for her, or me! There have been struggles, doubts, tears along the way. But her path has remained true. She refuses to be swayed by distractions, other opinions (even mine much to my frustration!) Every single decision has been hard thought and done so with compassion.

When you have a baby you have hopes and dreams for what their life will become. Personally I want my daughters to be happy. My husband and I's main goal in life since we became parents has always been this. So far, it hasn't been plain sailing, there have naturally been bumps and massive craters along the way! However she has endured the challenges life has thrown at her with strength and grace, making us ever prouder of the woman who stands before us now.

I cannot wait to see where she is in 12 months, 5 years, 10 years from now. I know it will be exactly where she aims for. Shoot for the moon, the stars will catch you my angel. I will forever be grateful for the gift that is you x

Gimmie more!!!

The sound of year 1 competitive parents.

So many times I have seen first season competition parents demand more from their coaches, the EP's and their children.

If I could give you one piece of advice it would be trust the process. Slow down. Enjoy the moment. Just stop and savour this time with your child.

Emotions are always heightened when it comes to our children, it's natural to want them to succeed. But how much is too much? How far is too far to push them? Where is the barrier between brilliance and burnout?

It is a fine line to walk, and the answer is different for each athlete. For my eldest child nothing was too much. She trained 6 nights a week and complained about my Friday night vito on classes. There seemed to be no limit to her quest for excellence. It was only at my insistence that she had one night a week to destress and just be.

My youngest is so very different. She is a wild free spirit that loves cheerleading, but equally loves so many other things, and some days I have to remind her of the commitments she made to here team.

Each has its own challenges, and beauty. I have so many blissful memories of training, late night maccies and shows of strength from my eldest daughter, and equally many treasured times of wild adventures with magical creatures and past bedtime conversations with my youngest.

Both have their merits and their downfalls, but I wouldn't miss a second of either. It is a testament to the versatility of cheerleading, and proof that there really is a place for everyone within its ranks. Cheer doesn't judge you on the ability of your body, but on the strength of your mind, no matter what category your brain happens to fall into, there is a space on the mat for your authentic self.

I have met so many athletes over the years. The naturally talented, the kids who had to WORK and hustle to keep their spot. The ones who coasted and the ones who would trade a sibling to be on mat. It doesn't matter who you are, it matters why you are there. If you have passion and drive nothing can stop you. A very famous cheerleader once said "hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard"

So what if the talented children who don't need to work so hard weren't at practice? Who would the ones with less natural gift aspire to be? What if the hardworking athletes didn't attend, who would the talented children have to watch their backs and keep pushing for?

The fact is, there isn't a single spot on that mat that can be taken out of a routine and not be missed.

That isn't to say every athlete is essential. Everyone is replaceable. The hard fact is that there will always be someone standing in the wings waiting to jump into a spot as soon as it has been vacated.

So if you are expecting, requesting and sometimes demanding more from your coaches,

on a regular basis, remember that they have a team full of parents with opinions and thoughts wanting to be heard. They do not have to, and more often than not won't decide to do what you think is best. Your coaches are thinking about so much more than what will make one athlete happy.

They have a whole program of children to consider, as well as the success or failure of their business. They have their reputation in their own professional community to think of, something they have often spent the entirety of their life building up. They cannot and should not be asked to put the fate of their company in the hands of a child, simply because you want them to be point jumper, or a flyer or have a solo.

EPs often get a bad rap from parents, because of course you want your child to win, but if you are going to complain about a placing, you best make damn sure you understand the rules first. Your team might have harder skills in their routine, but they could be messy. Another team might have a less demanding routine, but they could execute it so well that their score beats yours! Competition is a time to practice grace and humility, not to make the children in a program feel they have disappointed you.

So, please remember that if you know you have selected to correct program for your child, you must trust the process. Trust the coaches, and trust your athlete!

x

I can't wait!!!

So our baby program is growing. Fast.

Our head coach has secured a unit in which we will have our very own studio and I cannot believe where we are now! I love our team and what it stands for. The values we teach and the friendships, bonds and care it has grown is immeasurable.

I personally have found one cheer mum in particular who matches my energy soooo well. Anyone who knows me knows I lost my best friend, my unrelated little sister in a very cruel and painful way. Anyone who knows me will have seen that I have been closed off since I lost her, and unwilling to accept new people into my life too closely.

And, anyone who knows me will have seen me let someone else in this year. Another parent who laughs at the same things as me, doesn't judge, calls me out if I am being unreasonable (ok a bitch) and who has my back 1000%.

Her daughter is as obsessed as my eldest with cheerleading and all the amazing opportunities and fun that comes with it. This wonderful human is in it, like actually really in the trenches with me and I know if my gun should misfire, she would be there with hers to back me up.

Do other sports create such friendships? I honestly don't believe they do. I am in awe of the insane amount of love and care people who are brought together by one class a week can have for each other.

Of course it grows, because first you have a child who attends a rec class, they think its fab, so when tryouts roll around they of course want to attend.

Once a placement on a competition team has been given, there is excitement, a feelg of accomplishment, and parents chat between themselves.

Then there is the first comp...wow.

Everyone from the program staying in the same hotel. Everyone sharing lifts. Other people's children asking for your help if they can't see their adult in the moment. Parents hugging each other because they are just so proud and happy. Core memories are made. Things that you will all remember forever, the children, and the parents.

We are beyond lucky to have such an insanely fabulous set of people to support out program. They see what our guidance has done for their child, and they are in return, willing to help with fundraising events, hair on comp days, picking up each others children, just anything really!

So, int this new chapter we move. We have much to learn, but I know we have an amazing supportive army behind us. Afterall, there is a reason we paint war stripes on our athletes faces, and I couldn't be more excited for the adventures we are about to have together.

To the friend who has made me feel understood again, I thank you from the bottom of my broken, and now slightly mended crazy heart.

This blog has not been what I set out for it to be, like so many things I do in my life. But as always it is my truth. I hope it finds you hopeful and excited for the end of this season and the beginning of the next.

x