As we approached the peak of Kaitlynn's competition cheer season, her schedule was jam-packed with team practices, tumbling classes, team competitions, and so much more. As rookies parents of a cheer daughter, Jeff and I continued to fumble through the expectations and culture in the world of cheer. Many times it didn't seem like a great fit for our family life, but we continued supporting the best way we could through the chaos. Aside from the occasional travel, the hardest part of cheer competitions for all of us was the hair and makeup - what a chore! But the outcome was always stunning to see our girl transform into such a grown up, mature young lady. Wow!
Part of our confusion in the world of cheer came from the ever changing rules and guidelines stemming from the ongoing pandemic. We were never able to fully understand how things were supposed to work because this year was so different from prior years. Many of the scheduled events and competitions were cancelled or moved to a virtual format, which really changed the excitement and experience for the girls. Since this was Kaitlynn's first year, it was all we knew and at times it felt like a huge commitment for little reward. But when Jeff and I finally were able to attend a competition, we gained more understanding of the fun and excitement that these girls work so hard for throughout the year.
Kaitlynn's first competition of 2021 was a virtual one to be recorded at her local gym, and this was the first one that parents were allowed to attend. Jeff and I took turns attending the taping sessions, and the team did a great job with their performances. It was so entertaining to watch the many teams performing with all the families cheering them on. It gave us a little taste of a true competition experience, and Kaitlynn had a great time celebrating with her team afterwards.
There was so much work and fun ahead for this team, and Kaitlynn was ready for it. Go Bombers!
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