A New Year, and New Changes . . .

I have always wanted my kids to be able to make their own decisions.  I never wanted to be "that" parent that lives through their children and decides what they will and will not do in life.  My parents never pressured me to do anything, and sometimes I wished they encouraged me to take a leap of faith and try things outside my comfort zone.  I look back and wished when I was in high school I tried different things. . . so I guess because of that I don't want my kids to grow up with the gee I wish I coulda woulda. . .

After the end of the cheer season Cailin was feeling a bit disappointed.  I think mostly because she felt like she was just a body at the gym and was not improving her skills any.  She wasn't the newest kid at the gym or didn't have the coolest skills, so she was just another average kid.  Cailin,  even though she is young, never acted like her age.  At the beginning of the cheer season she was disappointed that there was not a team for her level and rather than jumping ship to another gym she felt like she needed to be there and stick it out even though she really wasn't happy.  She learned some great skills and had the opportunity to be a flyer, but she didn't feel like she fit in any longer.  So, she asked me if it was ok to go check out the other gyms in town.  I encouraged her to be open minded and so we visited the other two gyms in town.  After meeting the coaches and kids, she really had a good idea of what all three gyms in town would offer her.  She tried out for her old gym and was happy she made the Junior Level 2 team but was also very disappointed at the team and decided that she would very much like to change gyms.  This was a huge decision and I was really proud that she made up her mind herself.  Her biggest worry through all this was that her coaches at her old gym would be upset with her.  I told her that if she felt that she would be happier at another gym and that she felt it was the best decision for her cheer life, that they would support her.

The new gym is called Ace and them are a member of a larger gym organization that has gyms in Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi.  She was placed on a Youth Level 2 team made up of girls all her age.  The best part is that some of them even go to school with her.  For Cailin that was huge.  No longer was she the oldest or youngest on the team.  The coaches really did everything they could to make her fell welcome and a part of the family.  Most of the girls on the team have cheered together for a few years, so she was one of a few new girls on the team, but the best part was that she didn't feel like "the new girl".

So, we start the new cheer season at a new gym, new colors, new people, new cheer moms, new drama, new start . . .  and the best part.... see the huge smile... that's the best part!

More to come. . .