Well, folks, it’s a big week. I’m heading to BlogHer—the most insane blogging conference imaginable—in San Diego. The part I’m post excited about? Last year I went with Yahoo! business cards, but this year I’m going with Using Our Words business cards. It may seem like a subtle difference to you, but it’s HUGE for me. Because I’m up to my eyeballs getting ready, I figured I’d share my Shine Parenting Guru post from this month. The assignment was to share our experiences or tips about swimming and water fun with kids. And since many of you know me because of my swimming past, I figure some of you will relate. Enjoy!
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Swimming. Over the years the word has had a lot of different meanings to me.
When I was very young, the baby pool was home for the summer. It meant friends, fun and snack bar goodies. By the time I was eight, it meant early mornings, blue ribbons and pool records. Soon came the Olympic dreams (far fetched as they were) and a confidence that I didn’t have in other parts of my life.
At thirteen swimming became an escape, a way to transfer schools to avoid the mean girl who was plaguing me. By fourteen, my Olympic dreams were long gone, but the dreamy boys were front and center. For years I lifeguarded, taught swim lessons to adorable little kids and I grew up in the water. But after an injury or two (including a broken heart), my love of the sport faded.
Even so, every time I get in the water, a flood of memories and emotions comes rushing back. I feel peace, strength, grace—and I feel at home.
You might assume that because of my past, I’d have little water babies of my own. But it turns out I don’t. My oldest son has been in and out of lessons through the years, but he’s never loved it. Both of my boys are sensitive to the water because they’ve had more ear infections than I can count and a few sets of ear tubes between them. I finally stopped taking them swimming because it was a huge battle just to get their ears wet.
In a way, it’s been a bit of a relief. My kids are developing their own talents and passions. They don’t have the burden of following in my extremely competitive footsteps. In a way, it’s felt like a bit of a loss. Like maybe I wouldn’t share this special bond and love with them.
So I decided to try again this summer. It turns out a new swim school and a year of maturity have been magic. Though they’re still so very young and have a long, long way to go, my boys couldn’t be doing better. Or, more importantly, enjoying it more.
And yesterday, as I watched my son swim beautifully across the pool, it was like something just clicked. In him—and in me. And suddenly the word “swimming” has all kinds of potential again.
Are there activities or hobbies you have that you hope your kids will adopt?
Like you I hope my kids love my loves in life…my daughter has been taking dance since she was 2 (she is 4 now) and a HUGE part of me hopes she continues to love and enjoy dance as much as I did (and still do). I love watching her and it brings back so many memories of how big dance was in my life!
Oh my, I can only imagine that I’ll feel that way with Pink. I always thought that if I had all boys, the one thing I’d miss was a little ballerina. No pressure, right?
may be we’ll run into each other at burgess sometime! =)
Peek into the baby pool. We’ve been spending lots of time there. Afraid the lessons are much better elsewhere!
I am secretly desperate for the kids to get into the sports I did in high school. First – tennis – so I can get back into it with them and play together. Then – basketball – I understand the game and think that a nice INDOOR winter sport that comes with seats is just the ticket! Of course there’s golf, too… but we’ve got time for that one.
I’m petrified they’ll get into something like baseball or (sorry) swimming – I hear the hours are brutal and I know really nothing about the competitive side of either sport…
Then there’s martial arts … I’m such a snob. I’ve put my foot down that they can only do kung fu (if they even choose to go that route at all) because it’s a chinese martial art and I know that really well, too… so if they ask about karate or tai quan do (sp?!), I’ll just pretend I didn’t hear them 🙂
Technically, they could also both get into dance/cheerleading… I’d totally understand that, too…. but I think Matt may feel differently 😉
Tennis, basketball, kung fu and cheerleading? Those are going to be some busy boys…with one happy mama!
Summers by the pool–three clubs, each in one of three states spanning the country. Seeing a dream develope surrounded by days and weeks of fun times , special friends and wonderful, committed families. Looking back, I wouldn’t have changed a thing!! How lucky we were to be there and see our Champ and her hardworking brother become such accomplished swimmers. Thank you for bringing back the memories of our summers together by the pool–and in it, too! You were, and still are our Shining Star.
Amy, I still remember all the fun we had on swim team both at Crow Canyon and San Ramon. Some of my best memories from that time. Glad we could share them together!
Me too, Kim. We had so many laughs and great times (and I’m not just talking about the ones on the stop watches)!