It was springtime, and my then 11-year-old told me she wanted to do two cheer teams at the same time. She wanted to continue with the cheer team she has been on for the last couple of years, and she also wanted to join her school cheer team. I told her I would think about it as this was a big commitment for me too.
A month went by, and Lillie once again told me that she really wanted to do both cheer teams. With a knot in my stomach and a lot of hesitation, I signed her up for both teams. I was nervous and I didn’t know how this was going to pan out, but I was willing to try it for Lillie.
August rolls around, and my stomach is in knots about school. When I thought about school, I thought about rushing around after school and it made me nervous. “What about homework and studying?” I said to my husband as I worried some more.
I held my breath as I looked at the schedules of the two cheer teams. Both teams had told Lillie and her teams how important attendance is. Both teams had emphasized how important it was to be at every practice. Cheerleading is a unique sport in that you need all the team players to practice your routine. If someone is missing, it throws off practicing stunts and routines to the fullest. If someone from a stunt is missing the whole group can’t practice.
As I put both schedules into my phone, I took my first big breath of relief as I saw that I thought we could do this. The school cheer team was meeting right after school and her other cheer team was meeting later at night. None of the games conflicted with each other. I took my first big breath, but I was still nervous.
I want to pause and say that I could have been talking to the other moms and realize that 1) One of the moms had talked to both coaches to coordinate practices. 2) I could have been talking to the two other moms that have kids on both teams to get their support and talk about my fears. We always feel better when we talk to other moms. Why was I doing this alone?
Lillie went to school, went to school cheer, and then went to her second cheer team practice all in one day sometimes. I was once again holding my breath and wondering how Lillie was going to do this.
Don’t underestimate Lillie, I reminded myself. My friend and I talk about this pattern that I have in underestimating her. Lillie is my youngest and I tend to forget how capable she really is. She was crushing it. She was getting herself in really good shape. She was getting all her homework done. She was doing it.
As I watched Lillie run from one team to the next with a smile on her face, I began to feel less stressed. I saw her doing it. I saw her succeeding. I saw her managing it all.
I spent a lot of my summer stressing about my decision to let Lillie do two teams. Why would I waste all that energy? I didn’t know anything. I didn’t know if there would be anything to worry about. We need to reserve our strength and energy and not be stressed when there is nothing yet to stress over. As my husband continues to tell me, “You don’t know anything yet!”
As Lillie continues to run from team to team, I see her learning and growing, and I couldn’t be prouder. So many lessons from cheering:
Teamwork Is Everything: Cheerleading is the ultimate team sport. It’s not just about individual skills; it’s about how well you can collaborate with others to reach a common goal. I’ve seen my daughter bond with her teammates, learning that success comes from trust, communication, and supporting one another. Whether it’s nailing a stunt or perfecting a routine, everyone’s role is crucial, and they all rise together or fall together. It’s a beautiful reminder that in life, we can accomplish so much more when we work as a team.
Gaining confidence: When my daughter first started cheering, she was a little hesitant. It was a new sport to learn. As she practiced, I watched her confidence bloom. She’s learning that you don’t have to be perfect right away. Confidence comes from showing up, putting in the effort, and knowing that with every stumble, you’re getting closer to success.
Resilience in the Face of Setbacks: Cheerleading is full of moments where things don’t go as planned. A dropped stunt or a misstep can feel disappointing, but I’ve seen my daughter bounce back with more determination each time. She’s learning that setbacks aren’t failures, they’re opportunities to grow. Resilience is something that I hope will carry her far in life, long after the cheerleading uniform is put away.
Time Management: Balancing school, cheer practices, friend and family time has been a whole new challenge for her, and it’s teaching her the importance of time management. She’s learning to prioritize her responsibilities and carve out time for both fun and obligations. As much as it’s helping her stay on track with cheer, it’s also a lesson that she’ll need for school, work, and life in general.
Pushing Past Comfort Zones: Cheerleading constantly pushes my daughter out of her comfort zone. Whether it’s performing in front of a crowd or learning a difficult new stunt, she’s facing her fears and realizing that growth happens when you push yourself beyond what you think is possible. It’s been amazing to watch her face challenges head-on, even when they seem intimidating at first.
Leadership Skills: One of the most unexpected lessons has been seeing her grow as a leader. Whether she’s encouraging a teammate who’s feeling down or taking the initiative during practice, cheerleading has given her a chance to develop leadership skills. She’s learning that being a leader isn’t about being the loudest voice in the room, it’s about lifting others up and setting an example through hard work and dedication.
Handling Pressure: There’s a lot of pressure that comes with performing in front of an audience, but cheerleading teaches her how to manage it. Whether it’s a small competition or a big event, she’s learning to stay calm under pressure and trust in her preparation. This ability to handle stressful situations will serve her well in the future, whether it’s during exams, job interviews, or other high-stakes moments.
The Importance of Positivity: Cheerleaders are known for their high energy and positive attitudes, and my daughter is soaking up that spirit. Even when things aren’t going perfectly, she’s learning the power of staying positive and how that can affect everyone around her. That mindset is such a valuable life skill to be able to find the silver lining and keep moving forward with a smile.
Celebrating Wins both Big and Small: Cheerleading has taught my daughter the importance of celebrating all victories, whether it’s a perfectly executed stunt or just making it through a tough practice. She’s learning to recognize the small wins in life, and that joy and pride aren’t just for the big moments but they’re for every step along the way.
Hard Work Pays Off: Perhaps the biggest lesson my daughter is learning from cheerleading is that hard work truly pays off. From hours of practice to pushing through tired muscles, she’s seeing firsthand how effort leads to results. Whether it’s perfecting a routine or mastering a tough move, she’s realizing that success isn’t handed to you. It’s earned through perseverance and dedication.
Watching my daughter flourish through cheerleading has been a reminder that these lessons are ones we all can take to heart. I’m so proud of the young woman she’s becoming, and I can’t wait to see how she continues to grow both on and off the mat.
I’m so happy that I took a leap of faith and let her sign up for both teams. I hope she is proud of herself. I am so proud, but what means even more is if she is proud of herself. I want to encourage all of us to have our children join clubs, sports and activities. The lessons that they will learn are invaluable!
Laughing, Learning, Loving,
Rebecca Greene, LCSW-R
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