We have had some amazingly fun parties! At these parties we have often had Moms do a dance off and some Dads get involved too!
Last year at Nationals, Director Liz had a super fun surprise for the girls after playing the PJ Games -they all ended up at the Pool area and had sparklers! Problem was, poor Liz couldn't get the sparklers to light, and 3 dads jumped right in and helped get them going! This is the NCGTM spirit! All weekend, those same 3 dads were always asking if Liz needed a heavy box lifted, or any help.
At crowning, Liz actually awarded the 3 Dads with King crowns to thank them for saving the day with the sparklers!
Dads get King Crowns!
When Maddie won National Ambassador, her Dad joined her on stage for a hug! Proud Dad moment!
2014 Nationals Party - Moms and Dads Have a fun time!
Being a good Pageant Parent does NOT mean you have to join in the dance on stage, or help light sparklers -being a good Pageant Parent is SUPPORTING YOUR DAUGHTER!
How can I support my daughter?
- Register early or on time. A director loves nothing more than a parent who is on top of registration and doesn't beg 3 days after registration has closed to let their child in, even though you have known about the pageant for months.
- Pay your deposits and payments on time. Save the director from chasing you down. She/he shouldn't have to do this. Also pay attention to other deadlines for Ad pages, good luck pages, program photos, etc...
- Write down everything you have entered and also how much you owe and have paid. Save yourself having to email a busy director numerous times. She/he will appreciate this!
- Use google. Your director is not a travel agent, provider of phone numbers, provider of contacts, etc... Before asking your director a question, think "Is this information I can find on my own?". Check your delegate information on the website or info package. Check google. Ask another pageant mom. NCGTM provides 2 chat groups on facebook - one that is open to all people who are registered or thinking of registering for an NCGTM pageant to talk, discuss, ask questions, etc... and also a private chat group ONLY for those coming to Nationals. You can talk to other parents in there as well.
- Organize your daughter's outfits/accessories for her in an easy fashion. If your daughter is older and capable of steaming her own outfits, surprise her and tell her to go for a swim with her friends and you will do it. Taking some of these little chores off a contestant and letting them have some downtime can be key to a contestant having a lower stressed time!
- Don't let your stress show! A stressed parent rubs off and makes for a stressed child! Running late? Elevator slow? Frustrated about something? Keep it inside! Don't race your child by dragging them by one arm and screaming 'OMG we are late!'. Instead, if the child is small enough, put them on your hip and giggle and run and make it 'fun' to get there fast! For an older girl, just reassure her you will be there on time and don't let her stress! Smile, even if you don't feel like it at the time - keep things light and happy.
- Put accessories for outfits in zip lock baggies and label them as to what they are for. Poke a hole in the bag and put these around the hanger neck of each outfit.
- Have healthy snacks on standby! Things that won't make a mess. Grapes, carrot sticks, cheese cubes, crackers, etc... If your daughter is at a rehearsal, she will be hungry (and probably thirsty after!). Greet her with a snack bag and bottle of water or juice.
- Be supportive through the ENTIRE pageant process. From deciding to register, to picking out the dress, outfits, etc... right through the whole pageant weekend!
- Do not put pressure to win on your daughter! Go into the pageant with the attitude that you of course hope to win, but there will only be one winner in your age category. Go in to have a fun family weekend or mom/daughter weekend getaway and make fun memories. Winning is just a bonus.
- Don't trash talk other contestants with your daughter. I know it can be tempting to compare yourself to every single girl in your category and decide who you think you are better than, but it is just teaching your daughter to talk badly about people. Especially remember how much a younger girl really takes in. It isn't healthy for a 6 yr old to think she did better than other girls because Mom says so. This also teaches girls to compare themselves to others, and not be their own independent person.
- Ask what you can do! If you see your daughter stressing, ask her what you can do to help. Be calm, don't get angry with her for stressing, don't tell her to calm down (they seem to hate that!), but just say 'What can I do for you? What will help you right now?"
- Don't over-rehearse! There are a couple of types of pageant girls. Some will never want to rehearse and just want to wing it on stage. It is ok to encourage them to maybe do a little run through. Some girls will OVER rehearse. They will practice until their toes are numb in their shoes, or practice their intros, etc... until they have no voice! Don't let girls do this to themselves. Also, as a parent, don't force a child to rehearse over and over and over. This takes the fun out of it. I think one of the saddest things I have ever seen was a mom who kept pulling her daughter out of the pool every 10 mins to rehearse her intro and speech on the side of the pool deck, and if she didn't do it properly, she wouldn't let her daughter go back into the pool until she did! Same mother would separate her daughter from chatting to friends and be down the hall DRILLING her with practice. By the time this poor kid hit the stage, she was so stressed out and worried, that she completely blew it! She forgot everything and ran off crying.
- Teach your daughter to be positive and make friends! Girls need to build each other up and not tear them down! Let's teach our daughters to be happy for one another whether they win or lose!
Got more tips? Please leave them in the comments!!!
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