Open mouth....... Insert fin

Continuing with our Swim Parent Series, our newest post is from a former swim parent offering another bit of advice through a personal experience. Enjoy!

-Coach Erik

Swimming is hard work. Even when your swimmer isn’t working hard, it’s hard work. Meaning, a cold can affect her performance at practice.  A bad day at school cannot always be diffused by drills in the pool.  And, being thrown a Now or Later in the midst of chlorinated peers doesn’t always rejuvenate fatigued muscles. As a parent, you are the driver to practice and meets, the pasta boiler and the cheerleader.  You keep old heat sheets and religiously videotape swims and post ribbons on the refrigerator. But, you are not the one doing the work in the pool.

Fast forward to the next meet.

This race is her specialty. Striving for a personal best. Not in an outside lane, thank goodness. She’s on the blocks, lucky goggles on. Muscles taught - she looks like a rubberband ball of muscles.  The gun goes off with a crack! Breathing is there, head position correct.  Perfect turn and streamline off the wall.  Focused.  Yet, speed is illusive. She finishes strong, but not the personal best hoped for.

She comes up into the bleachers chewing on her goggle strap.  So forlorn. And what does her loving mother say?  “What is the matter? What happened? What the heck - were you even trying? “ She bursts into tears and yells, “I did try hard. I did. Could you do that?” And down the bleachers she flees.

 
Your heart drops. Remember. You are not the one doing the work in the pool. You are the love, the warmth, and the keeper of all things sacred – lucky goggles, lucky snacks, pasta boiler, and more. You are support.