The end of the swim team season means it is time to reflect. How can I not when I see my child skipping toward me with a beaming smile and a trophy?
It goes a little something like this...
Start of swim season = my husband and I pump the kids up about swim clinic and remind them of how much fun they have at the pool with their friends, what great exercise swimming is, how great it is to be part of a team, etc.
The kids whine about how it is hard work and they have to swim laps, laps and more laps.
Mid-season = the kids love it! They beg to go to the pool early and stay late. They can't get enough of their friends and they see the progress they are making in their times. As they collect their ribbons throughout the season the
Personal Best ribbon truly means something to them. As parents, mid-season is when we start getting tired of working the 4-5 hr long swim meets in the 98 degree heat, packing the cooler everyday and buying twice the groceries because the kids are burning off every calorie they consume. We ask ourselves... "why did we sign up for this?"
End of the season = the kids still love the meets. Darren and I are burned-out. They want to stay until the last event to cheer for their team and see the final score even if they aren't swimming the last relay. Abby is begging to join a year-round swim team. Gracie is swimming the butterfly like a champ.
Final reflection: I LOVE swim team for the sake of my girls. I love that they get great exercise and have great friends on the team. I love that they admire a few amazingly talented swimmers on the team and yet are happy with their own progress and individual achievements. I love that a trophy lights up their faces.
(I love that swim team is over for this summer. But I will also love when it starts up again next May.)
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| Gracie on the starting block |
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| Waiting patiently |
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| Abby at the end of year picnic |
