How to Stay Sane During Competition Season: A Cheer Mom’s Survival Guide

If you’re a cheer mom, you know competition season can feel like a whirlwind of travel, countdowns, and last-minute runs to the store for “emergency” bobby pins. Between the early morning call times, endless car rides, and trying to find a few minutes to relax, it’s easy to feel like you’re losing your mind. But don’t worry—you’re not alone!

Here’s how I’ve managed to stay (mostly) sane during competition season, and how you can too!

1. Get Organized Early

The sooner you organize the competition dates, hotel bookings, and packing lists, the smoother your life will be. I swear by having a designated cheer planner—one that holds all those key details like comp dates, practice times, and travel confirmations in one place. 

(Shameless plug: If you don’t have a cheer planner yet, check out our cheer-specific planners!)

2. Prep a ‘Cheer Mom Bag’

Just as your athlete has a dedicated cheer bag, you need a fully stocked “cheer mom bag.” Fill it with essentials like snacks, water bottles, safety pins, hand sanitizer, chargers, and yes—those bobby pins. Having everything on hand will save you from those preventable last-minute purchases (and from turning into the “unprepared mom”). Want to hit the easy button? Check out our own reusable solution.

3. Set a Budget (and Stick to It!)

With competition fees, travel, and team gifts, competitive cheerleading can quickly become a spending spree. Having a clear budget for each competition will save you from post-comp shock. Track your expenses for each comp, and set limits for extras. It doesn’t have to be fancy—just a quick list of what you’re willing to spend. Our cheer budget workbooks are great for this!

4. Find Moments of Zen

This one’s important. Between the hair, makeup, and travel, it’s easy to lose yourself in the chaos. Try to carve out a few moments of peace—whether it’s a quiet coffee before the day starts, sneaking in a quick walk when your athlete goes to warm up, or curling up with a quiet activity. These little sanity breaks will help keep you grounded (and less likely to lose it over a misplaced curling iron). 

5. Connect with Other Cheer Moms

We’re all in this together! Find your tribe of fellow cheer parents who understand the grind and laugh off the crazy with you. Personally, I gravitate towards the moms who don't take things too seriously and also respect my occasional need to crawl into an introvert cocoon. Sometimes, just knowing someone else is dealing with the same chaos makes it all feel more manageable.

6. Keep It Fun

Remember, as wild as competition season can be, it’s meant to be fun! Watching your cheerleader light up on stage, hit their stunts, and bond with their teammates makes all the stress worth it. Try to soak in those moments and enjoy the ride (glitter and all).

Stay Organized, Stay Sane

At the end of the day, staying organized is key to surviving (and even thriving) during competition season. If you’re ready to get ahead of the madness, check out our cheer planners and budget workbooks at My Cheer Budget. We meticulously designed them to help fellow cheer moms manage the chaos with style, sanity, and maybe even a little humor!