MissCongeniality
Cheer Parent
- Dec 14, 2009
- 3,024
- 8,822
Every single parent...gym owner...EP will "rationalize" why it's okay to do "in their situation". And the reality is it's not fair to call anyone a "cheater" for doing something that's not against the rules. Name calling certainly isn't a good lesson for our children!So I am reading on another thread about a CP crossing/competing on two teams at Summit (I think it was a R5 to 4 ) and it made me think...here we are blaming EPs for allowing and gyms for using crossovers and sandbagging but we as parents can solve this problem, just don't let your CP do it...period. Choose a level and stick to it, Fine, cross from a jr to sr age team if you think you have to be on 2 teams, but stay in the same level. It is that simple. Change starts at home...
Trust me...as a former athlete and as someone who worked in a competitive career...I totally understand the frustration with this situation. But rather than point fingers and call names...either do something or, perhaps, teach your child a different lesson...that winning isn't everything! That sometimes you "win" by doing your personal best and learning to take satisfaction in that. Those medals? The jackets? At the end of the day...that is "stuff". Or, as my CP put it (she gave boxes away when we moved) "I have visions of hobos (her word) all over the area in national champion jackets".
Look...I understand wanting to "win". I recall a time I got up on the block in a relay. I was a breaststroker but often had to swim the butterfly leg. I was 13. In the lane next to me ready to swim fly...the current World record holder. Talk about an "I don't stand a chance" moment. But my teammates cheered me on...told me to do MY best and to try to keep them in range. I'm sure we felt like it wasn't fair to be up against an Olympic gold medalist and world record holder...but guess what...that's sometimes what happens in life. How you face that ...is what makes you the person you become.