My Summer as a Flipper Rep

It's been ages since I've found any time to sit down and write. I write posts in my head all the time and have yet to get them down on virtual or real paper.  I have been so busy with my class (It's over and I earned an A! Thanks Amy and Amanda for watching the kids so that I could get in several uninterrupted hours of studying!)  I spent about 6 weeks of my summer getting my feet wet (literally and figuratively) as our swim team's pre-team "Flipper" rep. And now I am finishing up teaching preschool for our parish's week long Summer Religion Camp.  There really hasn't been a vacation in my summer vacation and I am so looking forward to a week at the beach which is somewhere in my horizon.

This summer was a little harder with trying to finish up my class. I think my friend Amy said it best when she said that teachers make the worst students. We really do. We think we know everything and yes, we do ;)  I was in the midst of finishing up my class when my oldest began swim season. His school was still in session, I was taking classes, and I had agreed to be the swim team's pre-team rep.

I'll admit now that I was apprehensive about being the rep.  My friend was the Flipper rep before me and only step down because she moved to the other coast.  She tried to talk me into it for about a year and my response to her was, "I don't like people." She actually told the other reps that I said that and what  do you know? They still wanted me to help them out with our youngest swimmers.  I received an email around April asking if I'd still consider being the pre-team rep and I said, "yes."  It ended up being a good decision and I had a blast working with the coaches. My role was to be the liaison between the parents and the coaches.  I had to keep parents apprised of the swim team events, tell parents if their swimmer was swimming in a meet, support the coaches, coordinate Flipper evaluations, coordinate the mini meet with other teams, and all around be on deck to answer questions no matter how random.

I probably spent about 15-20 hours a week on the pool deck and probably spent another 5 hours a week doing "administrative" support. I met some great people, worked with amazing coaches, soaked up a lot of vitamin D, and most importantly I was able to be involved in an activity that my kids loved. I was there for them, I wasn't bored waiting for them, and I loved doing something for my kids. This is a part of the "stay-at-home mommy" job that I love. Being there full-time for my kids and their activities. Being the Flipper rep was my job this summer and it was job that allowed me to be there full-time for my kids.  Granted I probably gained 5 extra pounds from all the fast food we ate after practices, during meets, and any time I didn't have time to cook (which was all the time!) and my house was never neat. It was constant drop-off bag of stuff, wash towels/bathing suits, get kids to bed, wake up kids, go out the door, and do it all over again for about 4 weeks solid. In that time my oldest learned how to swim backstroke, my middle learned how to swim freestyle with support, and my youngest thought the swim team was his personal fan club.  My husband was super supportive and spent countless hours on the pool deck on Saturdays herding children as I helped the team in some way, shape, or form. Hubby also helped with a lot of set-up and clean-up for various events.  Swim team really was a full family affair.  And we loved it.

My role is strictly volunteer. I do not get paid and I do not get a discount on my kids' swim fees. People are always surprised when I tell them that I am a volunteer and the type of time commitment it takes to not only be on the swim team but to volunteer for it as well as a rep.  I have no regrets. I had a ton of fun and I would totally do this again if asked. (But also would be just as happy hanging out on the deck as a regular swim mom if not asked.) My kids' smiling faces was a big bonus. At the end of the season I was given the absolute nicest thank you card from all the coaches which made the job that much sweeter.  Seriously. It's a keeper.

I am so happy to have been able to spend time with my kiddos this summer while soaking up the summer sun being outdoors. (Read: we did not sit on our bottoms and watch tv. I don't think we turned on the tv most of the summer!). It was awesome. I'm looking forward to sleeping in the next few weeks before school starts, and not answering to anyone but my own family, but I wouldn't trade this summer as a Flipper rep for something else. It was a pretty fun summer and a good memory maker. Looking forward to next year!

My oldest swimming freestyle

While the boys melted down at home, Buggy and I helped to prepare the pool for Divisionals. Here is Buggy next to her chalk outline and her "ribbons" on the other side.

Pretty in pink. Buggy with our babysitter and co-head Flipper coach. We are so gonna miss her when she leaves for college this year.

Mr. Bananas ready to "swim" his kickboard event.

It was a perfect day for the first A meet of the season and Boogie's first A meet over all!

Gotta love swim team. The only sport where it is multi-aged, co-ed, a team competition, and where you also compete
against yourself.  There's Bananas in the middle doing a cheer with the big team.

Thank You Flipper Coaches

I could go on and on about how much I love Summer swim team. It was wonderful to have both of the big kids swimming this Summer and as a result Mr. Bananas is trying to mimic their arms and legs every time he gets into the water. I think I'll have three swimmers very soon!

I loved our Flipper coaches and thought they did an excellent job working with the children. They assessed the kids and grouped them by ability and helping them to accomplish some very basic water skills. Buggy's group learned how to put their face in the water and how to float. I didn't expect more than that. I really wanted her to work on feeling comfortable in the water. As a result, when we go to the pool she loves to show me how can put her whole body in the water, even her face. Last year she wouldn't do that. This year, she can't wait to be in the water.

Boogie learned to swim freestyle and swam in several meets. I was hoping he would progress this year, but didn't want to put to much pressure on him. He did so well and next year we'll work on the backstroke.

Too bad, Mr. Bananas can't join yet. He's so excited to be in the water. Like Boogie, he truly is a water baby.

The coaches were fantastic. I was trying to figure out a nice thank you gift for each of them. But there were 8 coaches who were worked with my children. Giving them each a $5 gift card didn't seem enough, but if I gave them each a $10 gift card it would be too much for my budget. I did contribute to the coaches' gift and gave them a check, but I also wanted the coaches to know how appreciative I was as a parent. They were professional, friendly, and personable.  I never heard them raise their voices or act unkindly or frustrated with any of the children. And working with 50 kids, that's gotta be tough.  But the coaches were wonderful.

One day as the kids and I were walking through Trader Joe's we decided to buy each of the coaches a big flower.  Sunflowers for the boy coaches and pink Gerber daisies for the girl coaches. I let each of the kids pick the flowers. On the last day of Flipper classes I wrote out a thank you note.  After the session Boogie gave each of the girl coaches 3 pink daisies and Buggy gave each of the boy coaches a sunflower. It was neat to see the coaches' faces light up. They were touched by my kids' gesture. Their reaction confirmed that going with a simple, humble gift was better than trying to "pay" them with a gift card for their hard work this Summer.  I really wanted to ask the coaches for a picture with my kids, but didn't want to bother them. I was so relieved when one of the coaches gathered all the coaches and said he wanted a picture with all of them and my kids.  I got my picture and so did he. I look forward to next Summer and another swim season. Go Flippers!

Flipper Season 2012

I also love that most of the coaches are lifeguards at our pool. I feel an extra layer of security while we're at the pool because they know my kids and their abilities. I am also touched that they take the time to talk to my kids between shifts. It really makes us feel that we are part of a community and not just a Summer activity.

Catching Up: Starting with Boogie!

I realize it's been over a month since I lasted posted! Time has gotten away from me. The end of the Summer has been so busy with the end of Swim Team, Bible Camp, celebrating our 11th wedding anniversary, and our trip to the beach.  I vowed that I would spend every day of our time at the beach blogging and catching up and instead I spent my free time napping, reading, and watching the Olympics and it was glorious!

I don't want to minimize anything so I'll do my best to catch up. Especially since this is my digital scrap book and I want my children to be able to read this some day and read about the memories we made.

It will probably take several posts to catch up, but here it goes:

Lost his 4th Tooth

The day after the the Flipper Mini Meet Boogie lost his 4th tooth. He's now that adorable kid without the two front teeth and I love it. It has taken months for the 3rd tooth to grow in, but it finally is growing in. How did he get to be so big? I can't believe he's starting 1st grade in a little less than 2 weeks. WHA?!?

Just two days after losing his 4th tooth, Boogie swam in another B meet and my parents were able to be there to cheer him on.  This was the first time he swam the entire length of the pool by himself without anyone in the lane with him.  Boogie swam all by himself and was awesome. It was also cool to see all the coaches gathered around his lane cheering him on. He came in last, which was also 4th place and I couldn't be prouder. IT WAS AWESOME!!!!  The Head Flipper Coach's mother has a tradition of giving a dollar to kids when they swim across the pool in their first meet.  She gave Boogie a dollar for the "snack shack" and he was able to get whatever he wanted in addition to whatever I promised him for swimming across by himself. He was one happy kid.

Boogie with his dollar from Mrs. H.

Boogie swam in the last B meet the following week. He was still nervous about swimming by himself and I was worried when I found out that Coach Paul wouldn't be there. There are several assistant Flipper coaches, but Coach Paul has been the one to "rescue" Boogie when he didn't make it across the pool. I didn't think anyone would need to rescue him, but I was relieved when the Big Team Coach, Alex, offered to put on her swimsuit before his race in case he needed her. He didn't, he swam across the pool by himself with all the coaches, Hubby, my parents, his siblings, and I all cheering for him. He once again earned a 4th place ribbon (last place) and the coveted black "personal best" ribbon. He shaved a ton of time of his previous week's race and he was more proud of that than his "finisher ribbon." (He calls the last place ribbon a finisher ribbon and is not impressed, much like McKayla Maroney when she earned her silver medal, instead of gold, in vaulting).

Halfway through the meet, Hubby took the little kids home for baths and bed. I had to stay until the end of the meet as ribbon writer and Boogie stayed with me.  He hung out with me and then we decided to go to McDonald's with the rest of the team to pick up his ribbon. He was totally stoked to find out that he got to eat whatever he wanted (my big guy was craving a cheeseburger) and he received a free mini McFlurry when he presented his ribbon. When his coach called his name for his ribbon, I thought Boogie was going to take off. He was flapping his arms and jumping up and down in all of his excitement. I think it's really cool that our local McDonald's does this for the kids on the swim team.  The best part of the night is that Boogie told me I was the "best mama ever" and "I love you so much, Mama." It was wonderful to share this time with him. We stayed up late, ate ice cream, and spent time together just the two of us and I'm so grateful. He's growing up so fast and I don't want to miss a minute of it.

Flipper Mini Meet

This weekend my kids participated in the annual Flipper Mini Meet with our swim team.  The Flipper Mini Meet is a great way for our youngest swimmers on the team to gain some experience of swimming in a meet. The meet is low-key and the majority of the swimmers have coaches in the lane with them supporting as they swim the different strokes. There is also kickboard races for those swimmers who aren't able to swim yet.  The coaches hold/support the kickboards as the kids kick along.

It was exciting to have both of the kids participate this year.  Boogie was signed up for both the 6 year old 25M Freestyle and the 6 year old 25M kickboard race. Buggy was signed up for the 5&Under kickboard race.

Boogie with Coach Paul swimming the 25M Freestyle

Boogie's 25M freestyle was right in the beginning as the third event.  He was in Heat 2, Lane 6.  My parents, my uncle, and one of my cousins showed up to show their support.  Boogie was the only one in his heat to dive in to the water (the other racers started on the wall while in the water.)  He swam really hard and although the coach was in the water for support, he kept backing up so that Boogie couldn't reach him, forcing Boogie to swim the whole way and he did! Boogie swam the whole length of the pool by himself!!!  I am so proud of him and most importantly he is so proud of himself. He now knows he can do it. Before he had this mental block thinking he couldn't swim it on his own. Somehow he dug deep and finished the race. Towards the very end he reached for his coach and I heard his coach say, "Don't reach for me Boogie! You can do this! You're almost at the end." I saw the look on Boogie's face that he wanted to give up, but he didn't. He kept swimming and I am so very, very proud of him. He was the last to touch the wall, but he did it and he did it on his own!  That event gave him the confidence to do the kickboard event without a coach in the water. He told his coach he didn't need to go in with him and as a result Boogie finished 7th overall. Quite the accomplishment!