Glass Half Full wrote: ↑Tue Apr 05, 2022 12:13 am
Kendal seems like one of those really annoying mothers who has absolutely nothing in her own life and just talks about cheer all the time. Doesn’t matter if it’s her own daughters’ competitions, training, hair, make up or whatever cheer series is running on Netflix. Crying because Kapri won’t be on that team anymore is ridiculous….she’s lamenting her own loss of belonging, not Kapri’s. Kendal truly believes she is a part of Flip City when all she is is a source of payment.
I had to laugh at one of the captions that said the senior 5 team is Evie’s future team. Does Evie have a chance of making a level 5 team?
I also hope Brinley has the courage to quit cheer if that’s what she wants. She really doesn’t seem to enjoy it so much and even during the performance she isn’t the type of child to be flamboyant in her expressions like some other cheerleaders.
On her IG stories yesterday Kendal said that cheer is a sport like no other in terms of emotions and intensity. She only thinks that because she knows nothing else. If she could see just how hard other kids work at their sports she might change her mind. Again let’s not forget that her girls are a small step up from recreational level.
My three daughters are all competitive athletes in different sports. The eldest of whom is approaching elite level. In fact she was scouted by 5 different D1 universities last year to go join them on full ride scholarships beginning 2022. And we are not even American but her world ranking is so high that she is on the radar of US colleges. When our girls compete, regardless or which daughter in which sport, we feel nervous. But we don’t openly project the intensity of our emotions onto our girls before competition because they have their own feelings that they need to deal with. They don’t need Mom and Dad in their faces talking, pressuring, discussing the impending performances. I’m not in the least bit surprised Brinley isn’t enjoying cheer or feels too much stress (her words). She never gets a break.
Kenny’s whole life revolves around cheer and it’s not even her that participates in the sport. It’s really kind of sad. She doesn’t know who she is. She likes whatever the girls like or that is popular to like. Right now, the girls are on cheerleading so so is she. The thing I find odd about Kenny is that she lets it become her entire life. I’m sure that even young athletes in national or Olympic teams don’t have their entire life revolve around the sport. Kenny just likes feeling a part of something but it’s no different than her finding that community in an MLM: she’s paying for these friendships and community. How many friends will stay in contact when they leave Flip? Or when the girls age out of cheer? Probably none because they’re friends of convenience. All they have in common is their kids cheerleading. That’s it. People who have autism can often develop what are called “special interests” which go beyond a neurotypical persons level of interest, it almost becomes an obsession to learn as much about it until they become experts in the topic. Cheer almost reminds me of that for Kendal except it’s not because she’s neurodivergent, it’s because she’s a narc who has alienated herself from most family and friends. Daniel and the kids are all she has left so she latches on as strong as possible so that nobody can ever leave her alone.
I won’t elaborate because I did in another post but I’m #TeamBrinley! If she doesn’t like it anymore, I support her quitting 102%. Kendal won’t but, if you happen to be reading this Brin (which I doubt you are), don’t let your mom’s goals and desires control you. You are your very own person with your very own likes and dislikes and that’s awesome! You’re allowed to like whatever sport. Your so young with lots of potential, the sky is the limit!
EV, imo, has no chance of making senior 5 *except* for the fact they are “famous” YouTubers. I can honestly see Flip giving her a hand up because of that but also because, if they don’t move EV up, it’ll be the meltdown of the century from both EV and Kenny which risks the loss of not only the crazy expensive tuition from one athlete but from three. Now, why do I say she should move up? She simply doesn’t have the skills. Going from level 3 to a level 5 is a big jump. EV doesn’t even have a layout yet which she needs for level 4. For a level 5, she needs a full (or full twisting layout, however you want to call it) and she can’t have a full without a solid layout. It’ll take time to get a solid layout and, if they try and rush her through to a full when she’s not ready, she’ll end up with an actual serious potentially career ending injury. That’s why you take things gradually (as you know best!). Those are just two skills of the many she needs for level 5 but doesn’t have like a toe-touch to back tuck. That takes a lot of explosive power in your legs to pull them up into a nice toe touch then land and rebound with enough power to get up and over for a tuck. When I watch EV’s tumbling (keeping in mind I know nothing about cheerleading, just a fan not a coach), power seems to be what’s missing. She’s slow and heavy in her tumbling (and no, I’m not calling her fat by saying her tumbling is heavy, any person’s tumbling can be heavy no matter their size), there’s no explosiveness. She needs legs that can do that explosiveness if she wants to move up because she actually has the appropriate skills, not just to avoid a cat fight.
Your girls are athletes - these girls aren’t, they’re recreational cheerleaders. There’s some colleges known for their cheerleading but the Rich girls (at this point) aren’t good enough to get recruited to a good team. Maybe in the future, Kap still has many years to go, she may be able to make a college team if she desires. It sounds like you know how to handle yourself at a competition, not putting your stress onto your girls, letting them prepare in the way they need to prepare and not messing with their mindset. Great job mama Half Full!! You support them but not by going crazy over the top like Kenny, by being there if they need you and keeping the nervous energy to yourself. I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again, your girls are lucky to have you.
Offtopic: Thank you all for the kind reception of my news. J thought I was being vague and cryptic enough that your wouldn’t know exactly what I was talking about but that was silly of me because you’re all smart cookies and I’m so happy to have gotten to know and snark with you. To answer a few questions you may have, no, I don’t have cancer but do have a terminal illness (which I won’t specify on here to protect my anonymity, yes, I feel it’s very unfair being in my 20s and dying but I have a therapist and she’s great. When I go, it likely won’t be sudden, I should have a bit of time to come say a proper goodbye. Kenny says people on these sites are haters and mean and whatever, you have been some of the kindest most supportive people, much more supportive than I’m sure Christian Kenny would be. If you happen to pray, prayers for peace for myself and my family as we walk this would be very appreciated. If you don’t pray, good vibes or whatever you believe in are also warmly accepted. Thank you you amazing people