We went to Robin’s end of season cheer banquet today. I tried so hard to keep an open mind all year, even through the worst of the worst moments last weekend, all the way up until today. I expected more, but I left angry and disappointed. I think Robin was just relieved it was finally over. We all had lessons to learn this year. I hope we’ve all learned them.
Author: peanut7312
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May 9
The kids witnessed a car crash on their way home from school today. They were crossing the street (with a walk signal) and a car turning right stopped to let them cross. The truck behind her wasn’t paying attention, though, and slammed into her. The kids scurried across the street, stood there for a second, and then came home. Christina said there was glass everywhere. I don’t know if they should have stayed on the scene or just continued on their way, but I’m glad the truck didn’t push the woman’s car into them and they made it home safe.
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May 8
My work computer received a Windows upgrade this morning that turned into a complete disaster. It literally took all day to fix. I finally managed to log on at 5:20 after spending hours with tech trying to get it working. Just in time to take Robin to tumbling.
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May 7
One of the nice things about not having cheer practice is that I get to watch Yankees games again. Only problem is, I have no idea who most of these players are! The whole team seems new. But they won tonight in 10, and it was a good game. I also made five granny squares for my table runner and did three crossword puzzles. I could get used to this.
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May 6
Today was so pleasant. Christina had dance and that was it. We ate dinner together at the kitchen table and went out for ice cream to celebrate the end of the cheer season. It’s so nice having some time to enjoy things like the backyard and Yankees games again.
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May 5
Christina showed up at the dance studio for picture day but walked out as soon as she walked in, asking to go home. We missed her scheduled picture day because we were out of town for cheer, and when we got there today, she was surrounded by little girls in matching tutus and she felt completely out of place. So we came home and did the shoot ourselves. It was her idea to shoot in her room, which just seemed kind of perfect. It’s the epitome of her. I had fun doing this with her, and I’m kind of glad we decided to come home.
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May 4
Robin hung up her cheerleading bows today and finished the season standing tall. The team hit zero this morning, but it wasn’t enough to dig them out of last place. I’m proud of the maturity she demonstrated amidst a very small segment of highly immature teammates that unfortunately ruined the season and possibly the sport for her. I don’t know what happens next other than a good night’s sleep and going out for ice cream on Tuesday. That might be enough for now.
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May 3
Today’s competition did not go much better than yesterday’s. The coach was nicer to the team after their crappy performance, but what she didn’t say, the kids did, and they all took it out on Robin. I wish I knew why it makes some people feel good to make someone else feel bad. It takes all the joy out of a sport that is genuinely cool. We have to compete again tomorrow, but this weekend has been like a giant emotional vacuum. I’m not sure what Robin will have left. I’m not certain anyone still cares.
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May 2
Today’s Summit competition was one of those days that I think everyone probably wants back. The team did horrendous. Hands down the worst performance of the season, not just at competitions, but in practices too. To add insult to injury, the coach tore the team to shreds afterwards, throwing out hurtful insults and f-bombs, taking out all her frustrations on them. It was a day to forget and yet Robin is still going to bed with a smile on her face. For this I am so proud of her.
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May 1
Getting ready for this weekend’s slate of competitions. Laundry and dishes done, Disney park reservation secured… All that’s left to do now is sleep, which just doesn’t seem possible while I am this amped up, but I’ll have to at least try.
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April 30
Robin had her Cobalt sendoff for Summit tonight. Expectations for this team are so low that when they hit their routine, everyone was over the moon excited. Robin even came home saying it made her want to do cheer again. We left excited for this weekend, and I’m glad.
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April 29
Tonight was my last NAMI class. I’m always glad I have the opportunity to do this. It’s incredibly fulfilling for me. But Tuesdays are my only free night and I have missed having that night off these last two months. After this weekend, in fact, cheer will also be done. I’m going to have so much free time that I’ll be completely lost. Then I’ll just have to keep working on this table runner or find yet another project to keep me busy.
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April 28
One of my new roses is blooming. The blossom doesn’t look as healthy as I was hoping it’d be, but maybe it just needs to establish itself a bit more first. The garden on the whole is doing pretty well. The plants are starting to fill in a little, and it looks more flush. Even the desert rose, which I thought for sure was a goner after last winter, is growing new leaves. I’m enjoying the garden this year.
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April 27
Today was a busy day. I woke up before dawn to run the Strides for Pride run for JASMYN. It was probably my best race yet, not for finishing time, but for how I felt while I was running. It went over a bridge, twice, which is brutal. I didn’t even attempt to run the uphills. But I ran all the rest of it (minus about 1-2 minutes when I stopped to walk just because that is my expectation now). I think the downhills on the bridges made the rest feel easier, but I felt so good when I was done. I’m proud of myself. And then Christina had day two of her dance competition. There weren’t any other teams in their level or division, so they won regional champions by default. It’s hard to say how they really did without a clear benchmark, but I do know that they looked a lot better today than they did at the last competition. Christina left happy and excited, and that made me feel happy and excited. I’m so glad she has this thing that she loves this much. Everyone needs that. Robin, on the other hand, had two two-hour cheer practices today, which was just a little much for her. As much as she loves cheer, she is doing a little too much of it right now. I can see the exhaustion in her body. We’re just limping to the finish line, which is next weekend with not one, but two postseason cheer competitions. Luckily they are within 25 minutes of each other, and there’s a chance she won’t have to compete in both competitions on the same day if her level 3 team doesn’t progress to the finals on Sunday. It’s not looking like a sure thing either way right now. I guess we’ll see. No matter what, on Sunday she’ll finally be DONE. And THEN what? Mama is restless already.
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April 26
Christina had another great day of competition today. “Let It Be” won first in the category, second in the level 1 small group category, and was one of only three teams in all of level 1 that received a nomination to go to the world championships in NYC in July. She was so excited, as well she should be! I’m so proud of her.
