One of the things I’ve been grateful for lately is the ability to see silver linings. I’m not exactly a doomsday person and more often than not, I try to find the good in the bad (even if that happens days or weeks or months later) but the last 6 months or so, I’ve found it difficult. Until recently. I won’t bore you with all of the details, and all of the places I’ve been able to pick my self up, but suffice it to say it feels good to be able to find highlights in what many perceive as a huge pain.
Like hours and hours of weekly cheer practice.
My daughter has no fewer than 8 hours of cheer practice per week. That doesn’t include her tumbling class or competition days. It’s obscene and easy to complain about, especially when you consider their ages (the oldest turned 9 in January) but I’d rather focus on what’s good about it. 
It’s teaching my daughter time management skills. Skipping practice for anything other than a serious illness or family matter is not an option. Tired? Too bad. In a crappy mood? Show up with your game face on. Homework to do? Get it done beforehand. So, given the fact that missing practice really isn’t a choice, my daughter is having to learn to manage her time to fit everything in. Relaxing, homework, reading, practice…it all needs to fit. And she’s doing a great job managing it all (with a little help). And what’s nice is that this is laying a foundation for her future.
It’s making physical activity part of her normal routine. The more this continues, the more she’s going to have exercise a part of her every day life. She’ll already know how to fit it in with everything else and to her, it’ll feel weird when she doesn’t have it. And, as a result, when cheer season is over, she’s learning to enjoy other activity to fill the hours. She’s definitely not a couch potato and that’ll pay off later on, too.
It’s a boon for parental productivity. I can’t tell you how much my husband and I get done during practice hours. Whether it’s housework or errands or catching up on actual work, those extra hours where she’s active and socializing means we can finish up our to-do lists so when we’re all together, we can actually be together without obsessing over what is and isn’t finished. It’s essentially a large scale model of the kitchen timer method (you know, when you set a timer and try to get as much done in that fixed amount of time. Fancy name: the Pomodoro Method).
It’s a way to sneak in quality time. She practices Fridays from 6-8PM. That’s date night without a babysitter. My husband works crazy hours sometimes and he doesn’t get to spend much time with the child during the week. So, when he’s driving her to and from practice, it’s a way for them to have quality time together. And, similarly, when I’m doing her hair and makeup for competitions, it’s a time for us to bond. The time together might not be a lot but we make the most of it because in our house, it’s about quality not quantity.
It puts us on a schedule. And gives us the freedom to say no. Having those blocks of time already scheduled, and non-negotiable, means that we can only allow into our lives what fits around it. It’s made us more selective in what we do, who we see, how we spend our money, and where we go. Also, having that routine is comfortable and there are no surprises (and, should one arise, we have the ability to handle it).
Finding the unexpected finer points of all that practice took some work but I’m glad I’m able to do it. It makes those hours more digestible and less frustrating when you can take a step back and see what’s beneficial instead of just a pain in the ass.
What are some places you guys are able to find unexpected silver linings?
Brava for the silver linings. I drove Sean at least 3 times a week over an hour each way for soccer practices from 8th grade on. We got home late each night. He had games on the weekend, too. He maintained a 4.0 in accelerated courses. He played high school soccer,too. Graduated with college credits, like Steph. He is a division 1 athlete in the Villanova school of business at the end of his junior year with at least a 3.30 cumulative, & has enough credits to graduate a semester earlier(this December) So grateful. It makes you more efficient! My nieces and Sean’s girlfriend were cheerleaders, so I am familiar with the practices, etc. Enjoy this time with your girl!
Love, SMD’s Momma
That’s awesome that you are able to find the good things in it! There’s always good to be found, sometimes it’s a little harder to find than others, but it’s always there! 🙂
Julia @ Grace Makes New recently posted…Weekend Recap: Spring Forward Edition
Yay for silver linings! I would imagine you could get all kinds of things done during that time! I would be exciting about reading if nothing else!! I feel like kids that are involved in sports are sometimes more responsible at an earlier age than kids that are not…even if it is just for the simple fact that they are forced to be!
Nadine recently posted…Weekend Shenanigans
yes to schedules, routines and bonus quality time with your husband. i’m a huge fan of making sure kids get enough activity outdoors/out of the house instead of being cooped up. it’s why when kayla loves something, we sign her up and keep her in there for as long as we can.
kathy@real talk recently posted…things i need more of in my life
Those are all huge pluses! Everyone wins with this cheer schedule.
I try to find silver linings everywhere. Some places are harder than others but they’re always there!
SMD @ Life According to Steph recently posted…TWTW – treat yoself
I wish I had something like this when I was a kid, especially for the 2nd reason. I played netball, but it was with school so we had training once a week for like half an hour and then played on saturdays. it wasn’t enough to set a routine, and i stopped at age 11 (went to high school, no sports teams). anyway! kudos for finding the silver linings – my favourite might be the date night without a babysitter!! awesome 😉
Kristen recently posted…A-Z of Kristen
Oooh, that built in date night sounds awesome! My kids are too little to drop off at practice, so I have to waste time watching them in soccer or swim. One day though, I’ll relish in that free time!
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Being able to make quality time out of it is really good, and date nights without a babysitter required, total win!
I played varsity soccer for 4 years, plus I was in the marching band. That meant that I went from school, to band, to soccer every day, August-November. On away game nights, I’d get home at 10pm. It was the biggest lesson in time management.
The biggest silver lining of the army lifestyle is that I can never complain about not having “me” time.
Kristin recently posted…Steak Fries
I did so many activities while in school (swim, music etc) and I always thought that the back and forth from classes were such great bonding times. I think it also gives parents a sense of pride so Id chuck that in as a plus too. This post made me so nostalgic.
I’m definitely proud of her when she performs. She’s so little yet what she can do is so amazing!
I think it’s great she’s so into it and you have found some unexpended good things from it as well. I do try to look for a silver lining in not so fun situations. Sometimes easier to do than other times. 🙂
Tonya@Budget and the Beach recently posted…Freelancing Lessons: Perseverance