How could I have not seen this thread before today? I have so many cheer takeover moments!
I used to get in trouble from my step dad for doing facials and spiriting around the house! This then turned into making cheers out of conversations. Needless to say he didn't enjoy me being a cheerleader.
Fast forward to adult life, and my boyfriend now makes it his mission to educate all of my coaches boyfriends on what it means to be a boyfriend to a cheerleading coach. When we go out to bars he take the other boyfriends for "guy talk" cause we are having "cheer talk." I also caught him one time educating one of my cheerleaders boyfriends as to how he should act at competitions.... Boyfriend: "So if something happens in the routine that wasn't supposed to, give her a few minutes when they get off the mat, if she doesn't come running up to you don't go running up to her. If she made a mistake in the routine, you should probably give her space or pretend you didn't see it." Too funny!
I'm a therapist, and you know when cheer has really taken over, when my admissions coordinator refers a client to me stating, shes a cheerleader so I figured you would be the best therapist for her.
I also can't wear my hair in a ponytail to my day job (again, therapist) because I feel naked without a bow, and I'm 27, haven't cheered in at least 5 years, but I still have my box of bows in my closet, and always wear one if my hair is in a pony! lol