My Daughter Wants To Fly. Suggestions?

[retiredl5cheer]

Long story short My Little Bit has been every position in the stunt group. (Including the nugget behind the stunt..LOL) What she was doing on her teams were based on the size and skill's of the team as a whole. Years she could fly, some years she was a secondary...other's she was a main and now she's a backspot. I told her back then (she was about your child's age or a little younger cheermom31) that everything she mastered was alike a quarter in her pocket. Flexibility, mental toughness, dancing, jumps, flyer, secondary, main and backspot. Every little tumbling skill she got was a quarter in her pocket. Every time she learned a life or cheer lesson was a quarter in her pocket. Fast forward to last season when her team needed a backspot with a double and there she was with those quarter's in her pocket making the team she had been dreaming about her whole life. I know it sounds hokey...but she was young enough that she could visualize that "quarter" going into her pocket........I hope that helped someone...if not, carry on. LOL

Makes me think of badges in Girl Scouts. Learn something new...get a badge.

 

[Dixie]

Long story short My Little Bit has been every position in the stunt group. (Including the nugget behind the stunt..LOL) What she was doing on her teams were based on the size and skill's of the team as a whole. Years she could fly, some years she was a secondary...other's she was a main and now she's a backspot. I told her back then (she was about your child's age or a little younger cheermom31) that everything she mastered was alike a quarter in her pocket. Flexibility, mental toughness, dancing, jumps, flyer, secondary, main and backspot. Every little tumbling skill she got was a quarter in her pocket. Every time she learned a life or cheer lesson was a quarter in her pocket. Fast forward to last season when her team needed a backspot with a double and there she was with those quarter's in her pocket making the team she had been dreaming about her whole life. I know it sounds hokey...but she was young enough that she could visualize that "quarter" going into her pocket........I hope that helped someone...if not, carry on. LOL

I love this analogy and not for the reason you would think. Maybe now I can explain to people why she quit after so many years. Thanks for putting it so well.

 

[SarahS]

Long story short My Little Bit has been every position in the stunt group. (Including the nugget behind the stunt..LOL) What she was doing on her teams were based on the size and skill's of the team as a whole. Years she could fly, some years she was a secondary...other's she was a main and now she's a backspot. I told her back then (she was about your child's age or a little younger cheermom31) that everything she mastered was alike a quarter in her pocket. Flexibility, mental toughness, dancing, jumps, flyer, secondary, main and backspot. Every little tumbling skill she got was a quarter in her pocket. Every time she learned a life or cheer lesson was a quarter in her pocket. Fast forward to last season when her team needed a backspot with a double and there she was with those quarter's in her pocket making the team she had been dreaming about her whole life. I know it sounds hokey...but she was young enough that she could visualize that "quarter" going into her pocket........I hope that helped someone...if not, carry on. LOL

I just have to let you know that I've heard this "quarters in your pocket" story from you before and I love it so much that I've started using it with my team (7-12 year olds). It really helps them understand how they fit into the puzzle of the team and how keeping a positive attitude while improving skills bit by bit will help both themselves and their team. It is something that is concrete, that they understand, and helps them visualize how every bit of improvement helps. Thanks for sharing.

 

[MamaC]

My daughter has been a flyer for over 6 years. She is 11 and is 4'11" and weighs about 90lbs. She has solid level 3/4 flying skills and has her needle in the air. She is basing this year on a S4.2 team. I told her that sometimes just having the skill is not enough. Sometimes a really good flyer can also be the best base / back because they understand what it takes to hold yourself up. Sometimes you can be the better in a certain position, but maybe the other person can only do that position and you can contribute to the overall success of the team elsewhere (which as a coach is usually more appealing anyway).
I guess what I am saying is keep your daughter in the classes learning everything she can about flying. But please remember that just because the flyer gets the most pictures at the competition in the end it is about how you fit into your team and what you contribute overall. Flexibility and performance are important in all aspects of cheer.

Also know that a base at one gym may be a flyer at another gym. So if that is what is most important to her she may want to consider other programs... but the grass is not greener.

Seem like she is on her way to a successful All Star season

 

[BlockHead]

Long story short My Little Bit has been every position in the stunt group. (Including the nugget behind the stunt..LOL) What she was doing on her teams were based on the size and skill's of the team as a whole. Years she could fly, some years she was a secondary...other's she was a main and now she's a backspot. I told her back then (she was about your child's age or a little younger cheermom31) that everything she mastered was alike a quarter in her pocket. Flexibility, mental toughness, dancing, jumps, flyer, secondary, main and backspot. Every little tumbling skill she got was a quarter in her pocket. Every time she learned a life or cheer lesson was a quarter in her pocket. Fast forward to last season when her team needed a backspot with a double and there she was with those quarter's in her pocket making the team she had been dreaming about her whole life. I know it sounds hokey...but she was young enough that she could visualize that "quarter" going into her pocket........I hope that helped someone...if not, carry on. LOL

You just made me think of my CP. Her favorite part of her routine this year was when she was "a nugget" behind one of the stunt groups. She loved it because she could be on stage yet not have to remember anything or do anything! She was so bummed when they took that away from her after a cheerleader quit and moved her to replace that girl's spot. lol

 

[retiredl5cheer]

You just made me think of my CP. Her favorite part of her routine this year was when she was "a nugget" behind one of the stunt groups. She loved it because she could be on stage yet not have to remember anything or do anything! She was so bummed when they took that away from her after a cheerleader quit and moved her to replace that girl's spot. lol

This makes me think of one of my kids. She nuggets behind everything. That's what happens when your parents put you on a team in December. Anyway, she says to me one day "Why can't I nugget in the middle of the two groups instead of stand behind the stunt?" When I asked her why she wanted to do that, she said, "No one can see me back there!" Sweetheart, that's the point.

 

[12stepCheermom]

Long story short My Little Bit has been every position in the stunt group. (Including the nugget behind the stunt..LOL) What she was doing on her teams were based on the size and skill's of the team as a whole. Years she could fly, some years she was a secondary...other's she was a main and now she's a backspot. I told her back then (she was about your child's age or a little younger cheermom31) that everything she mastered was alike a quarter in her pocket. Flexibility, mental toughness, dancing, jumps, flyer, secondary, main and backspot. Every little tumbling skill she got was a quarter in her pocket. Every time she learned a life or cheer lesson was a quarter in her pocket. Fast forward to last season when her team needed a backspot with a double and there she was with those quarter's in her pocket making the team she had been dreaming about her whole life. I know it sounds hokey...but she was young enough that she could visualize that "quarter" going into her pocket........I hope that helped someone...if not, carry on. LOL

Your mission is to tell this story to my little but this weekend. She won't listen to me if I tell her. And I love this story

 

[BlockHead]

This makes me think of one of my kids. She nuggets behind everything. That's what happens when your parents put you on a team in December. Anyway, she says to me one day "Why can't I nugget in the middle of the two groups instead of stand behind the stunt?" When I asked her why she wanted to do that, she said, "No one can see me back there!" Sweetheart, that's the point.

Yep! That is what happened to my CP. She decided to return to cheer in late September. They had nowhere to put her except behind the stunt group. She loved it! She kind of marches to the beat of her own drum.

 

[GlitterPlz]

Long story short My Little Bit has been every position in the stunt group. (Including the nugget behind the stunt..LOL) What she was doing on her teams were based on the size and skill's of the team as a whole. Years she could fly, some years she was a secondary...other's she was a main and now she's a backspot. I told her back then (she was about your child's age or a little younger cheermom31) that everything she mastered was alike a quarter in her pocket. Flexibility, mental toughness, dancing, jumps, flyer, secondary, main and backspot. Every little tumbling skill she got was a quarter in her pocket. Every time she learned a life or cheer lesson was a quarter in her pocket. Fast forward to last season when her team needed a backspot with a double and there she was with those quarter's in her pocket making the team she had been dreaming about her whole life. I know it sounds hokey...but she was young enough that she could visualize that "quarter" going into her pocket........I hope that helped someone...if not, carry on. LOL

Standing in Starbucks welling up over this.


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[mstealtoyou]

I love this analogy and not for the reason you would think. Maybe now I can explain to people why she quit after so many years. Thanks for putting it so well.

You're welcome, I think?!?!?!?! LOL

 

[Cheermom1969]

Long story short My Little Bit has been every position in the stunt group. (Including the nugget behind the stunt..LOL) What she was doing on her teams were based on the size and skill's of the team as a whole. Years she could fly, some years she was a secondary...other's she was a main and now she's a backspot. I told her back then (she was about your child's age or a little younger cheermom31) that everything she mastered was alike a quarter in her pocket. Flexibility, mental toughness, dancing, jumps, flyer, secondary, main and backspot. Every little tumbling skill she got was a quarter in her pocket. Every time she learned a life or cheer lesson was a quarter in her pocket. Fast forward to last season when her team needed a backspot with a double and there she was with those quarter's in her pocket making the team she had been dreaming about her whole life. I know it sounds hokey...but she was young enough that she could visualize that "quarter" going into her pocket........I hope that helped someone...if not, carry on. LOL

Great analogy for kids! But as I read that, I can't help but laugh thinking my daughter would be standing there after every new thing saying "where's my quarter?" Lol!

 

[mstealtoyou]

Standing in Starbucks welling up over this.


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In a good way I hope!

 

[mstealtoyou]

Great analogy for kids! But as I read that, I can't help but laugh thinking my daughter would be standing there after every new thing saying "where's my quarter?" Lol!

I would have been more than happy to have made her a skills jar and actually deposited a quarter if that's what it would have taken. LOL

 

[Dixie]

You're welcome, I think?!?!?!?! LOL

I needed a relateable way to explain taking AP courses in high school other than "because I say so"! Yes you might make a higher grade in on-level courses, but look at all the quarters you're putting in your pocket with projects, homework, college prep lectures, etc. Cash them in at the college of your choice and there is your payoff.
As for leaving her team early? I'm glad yours got the chance to cash in those earned quarters. Mine put all those quarters in her pocket and the weight of carrying them around the past few years was too much to bear.

 

[mstealtoyou]

I needed a relateable way to explain taking AP courses in high school other than "because I say so"! Yes you might make a higher grade in on-level courses, but look at all the quarters you're putting in your pocket with projects, homework, college prep lectures, etc. Cash them in at the college of your choice and there is your payoff.
As for leaving her team early? I'm glad yours got the chance to cash in those earned quarters. Mine put all those quarters in her pocket and the weight of carrying them around the past few years was too much to bear.

Well then I hope I helped......you transferred it over in a great way and it does apply to so many things in real life!

My heart breaks for you and her. I certainly do understand first hand what you are feeling and what you've been through! I did know at the time that there were no guarantee's that what I was telling her would pan out for her later on. It was all based on faith and belief in our system. And let's be honest here, I think it's probably a little easier to make her dream team than it is your CP's just due to the high number of your area's population. There's something to be said for small town life.....lmao I'm so sorry it didn't work out for your CP and I mean that sincerely!!