Swim Meet

I was at my sons' swim meet yesterday. What interesting things you hear when you're sitting alone, listening to parents talk with their children.

Let us be kind and critical of our children.

A little girl just finished her race. When she returned to her obese dad, he said "You lost time. You were too far away on your flip turn." She said, in a perky voice, "I know" and walked away.

When I finish a race, I know, whether I've done my best, if there are things I could improve upon. I have the ability to self-critique. But, it is wonderful to hve my family waiting for me at the finish line, to see their smiles, and to hear how proud they are of me.

I cannot imagine what it would feel like to come in from a race, see a frowning husband saying, "You should have shortened your stride. You should have taken advantage of that hill." I would feel so low.

I'm not suggesting we spew falsities at our children about how wonderfully they swam if that is not the case. But I can assure you, the kind of criticism I heard from that dad, did not help that girl.

Let the coaches coach and the parent's be a support and encouragement. The coach's comment will surely be more constructive and helpful to the child!

Masters

How dare I even attend a swim session with such an elite title?! And yet I have been. For the past two weeks, I've been attending Masters swim sessions twice a week. I met Karen Holloway, a swim teaching legend. I've met funny, welcoming "Ed", a kindred spirit in the slow lane. I've met Brooke.

Actually, Brooke was the first person I met. She's everybody's friend. She allowed me to walk into my first session without feeling like I didn't know anyone, (which I didn't!). She introduced me to the coach, which changes with each session. She is a breath of fresh air at 5:50 a.m.!

I started swim lessons with Karen Holloway. She assures me that I will be able to swim the 1.2 miles required for they White Lake swim. I have faith in her ability to assess my inablility and KNOW that if she says I can do it...I can do it!

I am an Athlete

Last night my littlest boy wanted to play the game of Life. I didn't really want to play. I had a sinus headache, I just wanted to lay back in my pajamas and chill. But he was so sweet in how he asked, (multiple times), that I just had to say "yes"!

After choosing to go to "college" and taking out $40K worth of loans I got to choose a career and salary. I had three career choices, teacher, banker, or Athlete. I chose Athlete. I had just run an 8K the day before. I had surpassed my goal of 9 1/ 2 minute miles. And I had just spent the morning "brunching" with my Tri Girls. What the heck? I was going to be an Athlete! So, I told Little Bear and do you know what that little fellow said..."Like you already are!" My God, I was proud!

I've never thought of myself as an athlete. I'm just someone who dabbles in fitness and has recently become a triathlete, (a SPRINT triathlete, but a triathlete none the less!).

So there it is, from the mouth of my youngest boy...I am an Athlete!