Swim Meets Are For Meeting

Things look different at dusk. As the sky melts into night more is revealed. As I sit outside in this miracle of nature my perspective is changing. I have a kid, who gets up early everyday. Diligently, goes to swim practice, gives her very best, and comes home smiling. As this her second season, coming off numerous learning experiences, both her and I have a better idea of what to expect. But she teaches me unexpected things on the regular. Last year, she was the slowest on her team in her age groups. She didn’t qualify for conference and while her face could not hide her disappointment, her unabashed joy for competing and being with her friends was evident. 

She immediately asked if she could take private lessons with her coach. Of course, we will make it work. Once or twice a week she worked on her form, her turns. Putting in work on each stroke with the desire to get better. Fast forward to the first meet or the season that I am attending as I type. Two events down and two last place finishes. At first, my overly competitive self thought, we are seriously going to do this again? Then, two things happened, she immediately came up to tell me she set her personal record in both events while at the same time beaming with the pride of a champion and you know why? Because she is made up of all the things you dream your kids will be filled with.