Moms of cheerleaders

[furluvcats]

Chloe' just made cheerleading, and we are very excited for her! The team she is on went to Nationals in Orlando, (Disney) last year and won first place in their division...I know some of you moms went with your daughters, and I was hoping for some feedback from you...we've added up the costs, and it looks like it will be over $ 3000.00 for her to cheer this year, including all the competitions...its a shell shocker for us...I was wondering if its always this expensive, or more? Any advice for a new cheer mom and dad?

[Janice]

Well, that is just great, Fur. My daughter was a stepper, never a cheerleader. I, tho, was a cheerleader thru high school for basketball and football.

She will have just a ball and I hope her team does well.

[CajunMama]

Furry, my daughter isn't a cheerleader but a dancer which is probably more expensive. Advice? Fundraise Fundraise Fundraise! At least here with cheerleaders the school purchases the uniforms for the girls to wear and they turn them in when they're through for the year.

We had to pay out of pocket for camp, camp uniforms (3-4 different costumes), stockings, jazz shoes, more jazz shoes, even more jazz shoes, nationals, nationals uniforms (2 different costumes), airline tickets, hotel room. Then there were all the little gifts to each other. Big sis, lil sis, sponsor gift, coach gift, team gift if your daughter is the captain and/or co-captain.

Just mortgage your house to the hilt and you'll be fine

[Janice]

LOL, mortgage your house

[Miss Mary]

CM is right - it's all so expensive! Nina was a cheerleader for about 4 years in Elementary school. We spent hours on both soccer and football fields (sister played soccer). We bought comfortable camping chairs from Coleman and they're still going strong. I remember both girls playing or cheering in snow, rain, sleet, and almost thunder until games were called. Usually games went on despite the weather. Keep plastic garbage bags in the trunk for muddy shoes, changes of sox and shoes wouldn't hurt (for the damp ride home).

Nina enjoyed it but from there she took dance. She made the dance team and then that really stretched our budget - out of town competitions and hotel stays. She switched studios and concentrated on school and school related clubs and activities - thank God! She could go to the prom, never missed a dance and could turn in homework on time. Had she stayed with the dance team, I know she would have been dragging. I was so happy she switched to Orchestra, Mock Trial, Peer Counseling, Just Say No, Pride, Student Council, etc. While I would have supported her in cheerleading and/or dance team, I was happy she focused on anything school related. And not privately run organizations (the football team she cheered for was community so they couldn't honor any school's calendar).

It is an exciting time, no matter what your child's interests are. Just be the supportive parents I know you'll be furry!

Have fun with this new chapter!

Mary

[Janice]

Yes, and remember when you are 62, your life will be your own...

[Miss Mary]

LOL @ Janice - good one, good one. At least you can cheer with her furry! And won't be hobbling to the football field, cane in hand. Yikes, that didn't sound so nice.....back to cheerleading.

[furluvcats]

Omg...62...will I even make it! lol...You Moms have been exciting to watch over the years, as your kids did all their sports and activities...its been fun hearing about them...and now your girls are graduated...its amazing...anyway, I just wanted to tell you that I have enjoyed all your updates and stories, and hope you gals can be my mentors through the high school years! :O) You've done such a good job with your kids.

Kathy...how expensive does the Disney trip usually get? Do family members have to pay Disney admission to watch their kids, grandkids compete??? Can Mom stay in hotel room with daughter in her package, (I know my airfare is my own)....Thanks for answers!

Janice...do you still have your uniform??

[Janice]

No, but I do have a pic and I am not going to share. I had the shag haircut in it.

[furluvcats]

Awwww...come on j!!!! lol

[CajunMama]

Furry, my daughter competed with the UDA/UCA. They have a packet which includes a 3, 4 or 5 day stay with a 3, 4 or 5 day park hopper and will get you into the Milkhouse where most of the competition is held. You also get a couple of food vouchers for the allstar cafeteria and some of the restaurants at the park. You and Chloe can share a meal, they give you that much. It ran if i remember correctly about $400 or less plus your airfare. It's probably best that you stay on the grounds with the team if your school lets you but you have to purchase your own package. Our school let our daughter room with us.

This past year i went but drove down and stayed off the grounds. It wasn't that much cheaper but after 4 years of Disney it was a change. If i go this year i'll stay on the grounds with the team. College Nationals are so much more relaxed than high school. Just wait until you get like my daughter...4 years on high school and she's on her second year of the college dance team.


Janice...SHOW US THE PIC!

[coriolis]

four boys here

However, one is in band and we've been hit up for modest sums for trips to attend various events - but not compete. I guess our school isn't good enough to go to competitions. I guess being mediocre has its advantages.

[Janice]

You know, I don't think either one of my children went on a trip. The most I can remember spending on activities was for years of soccer and softball, gloves, etc.

[brunota2003]

The Irony...my sis name is Chloe, and today she went to Cheerleading Camp...she is 6...

[Miss Mary]

Awwww...come on j!!!! lol

Wait a minute.....S2K member j used to be a cheerleader? Oh I can see the headline now in the next newsletter........

Come on j, post your picture? While sitting on your motorcycle too?

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Furry, I know you meant Janice but seeing that you typed simply - j - I couldn't help myself! LOL

Mary

[beachbum_al]

My girls are still too young to be a cheerleader but that is the next thing Laura wants to do. My cousin on the other hand was a cheerleader last year and went to Disney World for competition. A lot of time and money. She is not doing it this year because she wants to dance instead which she has been doing since she was 2. I know her cheerleading squad did a lot of fund raisers starting as early as summer time.

[azskyman]

OK Furry. It's all expensive. Doesn't matter if it's band or cheerleading, dance or football. Every X-curricular activity has a price.

Had I had daughters (now I have granddaughters), I would have been much more worried about the quarterback on the football team!

And oh the stories you can tell about QB's, right Shannon? Heard from Jim lately?

Honestly, though. Keeping your kids active in good things..showing them that hard work pays off, and using some of that otherwise scary energy for those activities, well that's all good!

BTW. I mentioned to Deb tonight if she had ever been to Portillos in Chicago!

"That was my brother's favorite place," she said. "Did you know they just opened one up near us in L.A.?"

So the word is on the street.

Good luck with the Pom Pons!

[Janice]

OK, I will try to look for it today. I think there is one in my old yearbook. That was over 40 years ago. I will try to take a pic of it.

[Janice]

Ok, I went thru the album and only found a pic of my sis when she was a cheerleader. Wow, she is older than me so this goes way back. Yikes, look at the short curly hair. What a blast. She straight hair now. I will hunt up my yearbook later. My outfits were the same as hers since we both went to the same high school.

[furluvcats]

That is cool j!!! (Yeah Mary...I never talk to the old j anymore, so I've been calling Janice "j" for about a year or so now...hee hee...abbreviate everything! lol
Anyway, now we gotta see your pic....hey, speaking of the old j, maybe theres a powder puff cheer pic of him out there somewhere???? LOL

Steve...nah, haven't heard from him in a while...I emailed him and asked if he'd work with Brett one afternoon, with football, since Brett's playing high school football...but never heard back! He stayed with USD tho, so we'll probably go catch a few games again this year...maybe you guys can see one too this season.