Take Care of You

By Lisa D. Hall, CheerMAD founder.

As I was finishing today’s post about kicking into comp season’s high gear this weekend {The Majors' 15th anniversary marking the biggest Large All Girl division in the competition’s history; The Cheer Pro League's first event: JAMfest Cheer Super Nationals; 🇺🇸 Americas: Canadian Cheer Winterfest, The Spirit Network's Marquee Championships} the focus was on how parents can support their child’s mental fitness.

But I’ve decided that message can wait for another day.

At this trajectory, things are really ramping up not only for athletes but for you-the Cheer mom and dads (CheerMADs).

You’ve been through tryouts, new team placements, new schedules, new practices, work and workouts, new teammates, Boot -or any other so-called Camp, budgeting, chauffeuring, crockpot and meals on the fly, more practices, choreography, injuries, routine changes, illnesses, showcases, travel, illness, coordinating sibling schedules, laundry, first competitions, more work, more practices, more traveling, more driving, more laundry, more budgeting, more crockpot meals, more carpools, more, more, more!

So I re-worked this post, to what I believe is most important in competitive cheer: putting ourselves first.

I know.

This can be a new concept for some, and one that I never truly grasped (still working on it). I thought being Super Mom (and Team Parent, Homeroom Helper, Scout Co-Leader, Church Volunteer, Career Woman, Volunteer) was what I just...did. I can't say these roles were "expected" or "should've" or any other social moniker because I freely chose to put everyone else's needs before my own.

I truly enjoyed every moment but I also experienced injuries and illnesses, physical and mental exhaustion that would show up at the most inconvenient times, including a divorce that my ex swears was caused by cheer.

But I digress.

What’s important at this point, and throughout the entire season, is for parents to "fill their own cup."

I believe most of us have heard this expression (and if not, I'm happy to introduce you to it), but I know from a life-time of empty cups that it's a lot harder to put good advice into action. But maybe the "why" this is important will help.

Jeff Benson, owner-operator of Mind Body Cheer, show us the "why's" of putting ourselves first and benefit from his Masters in psychology, Bachelors in Physical Education and teaching at Illinois State University.

Empty cups cost more than you think.

They cost patience after a mistake.

They cost focus when pressure rises

They cost calm when nerves show up.

Knowing what fills your cup is vital to an elite athlete.

Start with the basics—sleep, hydration, nourishing meals, movement, and connection—to increase your capacity (the size of your cup).

Jeff is one of the most sought after and knowledgeable tumbling and cheerleading coaches in the industry. For almost 20 years, he has been involved in cheerleading in a variety of roles: athlete, coach, choreographer, program director, judge, consultant and author. Later in the season, I'll be reviewing his book, "unBlocked²: The Walls Come Tumbling Down" written to help cheerleaders, parents, and coaches understand and resolve the mental hurdles that occur in competitive cheerleading.

But you don't need to wait, order the book yourself at https://www.amazon.com/unBlocked-Walls-Come-Tumbling-Down/dp/1530496691 or visit www.MindBodyCheer.com to see his free four-video course for parents,

I'd like to add that I am not receiving any compensation from Jeff or his business in any way. I am always looking for ways to meet CheerMAD's mission: to support those who support the sport that their children love. I've known Jeff for more than a decade and respect his work that focuses not only on the athlete but on how parents can support them.

CheerMAD has been supporting competitive cheer parents for 17 years with industry information that, up until that time, was only available from overhearing athletes discussions' from the backseat of carpools. With the goal to have 10,000 readers in the first year, that was accomplished in six weeks, CheerMAD has millions of authentic social media impressions, with the majority of posts receiving more than 250,000 authentic reads. Founder Lisa D. Hall, a journalist (when she was proud to say that was her profession) whose interviewed former presidents and sitting governors, covered Olympians and professional athletes and shadowed Hollywood A-listers as well as local celebrities, and written about some of the most gruesome crimes the streets of the second largest city in New England can spit out. Associated Press credentialed and credits include: The New York Times, The Boston Globe and CNN.com. Publications include Inside Cheerleading, The Atlantic, Today's Parent, Disney Mom's Blog among others. She is especially proud of her nomination for “Best New Media” in Cheer Biz News​

Considered an expert resource on the cheer parent perspective, especially issues of youth bullying, sex abuse and suicide, Lisa is quoted in USA Today, People Magazine, Sportico and other media. She is most proud of her advocacy efforts to end youth bullying and suicide that brought her to Washington DC to talk to Congress in House Bill H.R. 975 (112^th): Anti-Bullying and Harassment Act of 2011 which was adapted into the H.R. 2682: STOP Bullying Act on April 7, 2025 by the 119^th Congress (2025–2027)

As a proud cheer mom of two All Stars for more than a decade she served a term on the United States All Star Federation's Parent Action Committee.

​