Hey Parents… Here is one for you. So your kid just came home from a tough practice and wants to quit. Unfortunately, this happens more than anyone wants it to. In reality though, if I could make the rules, this is exactly what I’d hope would happen (not every time though). When things get hard – school, cheer, life – the easiest thing to do is quit. I cannot count the number of times I personally have said “this is too hard, I just don’t think I can do it”. And the very next moment when I decide to keep going, is when I become stronger, and with the right tools, you can help your athlete get stronger too. Here are my suggestions:
- Validate their feelings. They are upset for a reason and that reason is valid to them. It may not seem like a big deal to you or anyone else, but to them it’s the world. Make sure they know if they feel that way, it’s ok. Let them sit with these feelings. Tell them it’s ok to cry. It is ok to feel how they feel in the moment they are feeling it.
- After they are ready (could be the next day), ask them what they liked about cheer. What got them excited about it and wanting to join. Is that thing still there, just maybe hidden by some frustration or feeling of the moment? It is important to be able to see the good and the bad together.
- Talk to their coaches and/or the gym owner about their feelings. Create a plan to talk to the athlete together, and to build a plan to move forward together as a team.
- Keep the dialog open between you and the coach, you and the athlete and the athlete and the coach.
Do not give up. By working together, you can help your child learn how to thrive in difficult situations. You can teach them to be resilient, and this lesson is one that will take them through the rest of their lives.
At Supernatural All Stars, we have an intentional culture and have built our staff and belief systems around this approach. It’s what sets us aside from other gyms in Central Massachusetts.