Since two weeks before school got out, we have been at the pool 5 days a week for Helen to be on the swim team this year. She had to be able to swim the full length of the pool by the end of week 3 to entitle her to swim in the meets. After week two, we were a no go. But at the beginning of week 3, she did it 7 times in one day. I'm afraid it was the result of mommy yelling at her to focus all weekend, but hopefully, it was really the fact that school got out and we switched to morning practices so she wasn't as tired.
Monday afternoon was the first swim meet. It was so hot with many mosquitos and thunderclouds looming. For us 6 & under newbies, we were very lost as to what to do and how to manage the long waits and hungry, bored children. For Helen's part, she seemed relatively unfazed. (Thank you- all the years of OT must really be working!) She got a 5th place ribbon for the freestyle relay and 6th place for her individual freestyle race. So here's where I tell you that there were only 6 swimmers in each heat. But though she did wonder to me why she didn't finish first, she didn't seem to care and was happy to get her ribbons. For my part, we have gone above and beyond what I hoped to accomplish, since I just wanted an independent swimmer I didn't have to keep at arms length at the pool all summer.
Next meet, I will have a babysitter for Daisy, more bug spray and hopefully a more been there-done that- easy breezy attitude!
