The reputation of the Bucks County Cheer Mom is certainly in need of some cheer. Given recent media reports of downright nasty behavior (both in person and online), it would be easy to judge them all negatively. But a Yardley mom, with first-hand knowledge of the sport and its drawbacks, breaks the less-than-flattering stereotypes. Hayley Krischer leaped into the story for The New York Times.

Aly Martin competed as a cheerleader as a child. She initially liked the activity. But when a cheer mom screamed in her face, things went downhill. “Cheer drama” followed: rumors, fistfights, school suspensions.

Martin’s team dropped her.

As a teen, Martin reentered the sport. She was a junior cheer coach for the Pennsbury Falcons Cheerleading Association.

When another mom started with overbearing behavior toward a participant, Martin stepped in.

“I told the mother, ‘Give her a second. Don’t tear her down.’ My whole thing is they’re 15. They’re moody. They’re kids,” Martin recalled.

Martin has a baby of her own now. Despite her negative cheerleading experiences, she’s eager for her daughter to give the sport a try if she’s interested.

She promises to be involved — but not too involved.

She’d let her daughter’s coaches do the coaching.

And she’d sit in the stands and watch.

More on this story is at The New York Times.