Why We Do Summer Swim Team

Mr. Bananas learning to be Head Timer.  "Timers! Clear your watches!"

My friends have looked at me incredulously at the beginning of the last three summers. When they have asked what we are doing for the summer I have told them that we are doing summer swim team.  They can't believe that we have practice every morning.  "You can't have practice every morning!" "Yes, yes we do. And now that Boogie is swimming in meets we are up and at the pool on Saturday mornings and Wednesday nights."

They think I'm crazy. They think we spend a lot of time at the pool (and yes, yes we do). They think my kids can't possibly enjoy being at the pool every morning. They actually do.  Boogie loves the water and Buggy has enjoyed learning how to swim and improving her skills. Mr. Bananas thinks everyone is his friend and in a way they are. He's kind of like the team mascot or at least comic relief.

Participating in swim team cheers

My friends think it's way too much of a time commitment and that it's too much work.  You pay to have your kids on a swim team and then you have to volunteer your time, too?!?  Yes. Yes we do.

When I was in the middle of third grade my parents moved us across the United States for my father's job and it just so happened to be in an area where summer swim team was a big deal.  I was at least 8 years old and I couldn't swim. My father being a deep sea diver thought that summer swim lessons would be a good thing for me.  Since I couldn't swim across the pool I was with the 4 and 5 years old learning to blow bubbles and put my head under water.  But I stuck with it. I learned how to swim and swam in B meets. I was never a an "A" meet swimmer and only made it in the "A" meets if someone couldn't make it and they needed another female swimmer in my age group.  I didn't have speed or a lot of skill but I had heart.  Just about every year I was on the team I was given some type of "Cheer" award for encouraging others and being willing to do whatever. Why did I do it? Because even though I wasn't very good, I loved swim team. I loved being in the water, I loved swimming, and I loved being a part of a team. I loved cheering on my friends.  I want my children to experience the same. I want them to encourage and be encouraged. I want them to have fun. I want them to experience being a part of a team and being a team player, while at the same time setting and breaking personal goals.  And let's face it, swimming is a life skill.

Sending off our seniors. We made a tunnel for them to run through and celebrated their time on swim team

I have fond memories of summer swim team. Of early morning practices and meets. Of seeing my parents at the end of the pool volunteering their time as timers. Of my dad coming straight from work in his khakis to make it in time to see me or my brother swim at a home meet.  Of my mom volunteering at concessions or being the ribbon writer.  Of earning a ribbon...even if it was a finisher ribbon. Striving for a goal and not giving up.  They are fond memories. While I have given up my swim cap for a pair of running shoes swimming is still my favorite sport.

Buggy swimming in her first mini meet last summer

My friend Valerie and fellow swim team rep writes her own version of  "Why We Do Swim Team" that captures the essence of why we do it.

So while Summer is nearly over, the kids are still practicing their swimming skills at the beach or at the pool. We see our fellow team mates and coaches at the pool and there is a sense of community.  While I am happy to not have to hustle the kids out of the house for the next two weeks and take things a little easier, I look forward to next year. To another swim season filled with goals, dreams, friendships, and community.

Swim on and swim hard.

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!

Almost for My Flipper

My kids are participating in Summer swim team. This is Boogie's second year and Buggy's first year.  They are on the pre-team and learning how to swim. Boogie is learning to refine his freestyle and Buggy is learning to become more comfortable in the water, including going under water.

Boogie wearing his new goggles and jammers

Last night Boogie swam in his first ever "real" meet. Last year he swam in the Flipper meet which is designed to give pre-teamers a taste of what it is like to swim in a meet like the swimmers on Big Team.  But after practicing his freestyle the last two weeks, the coaches thought that Boogie could be placed in his first real meet. He swam in the boys 8&Under 25M Freestyle.

Directly after practice we found the local swim store and bought Boogie his first pair of jammers (instead of the old speedo bikinis, swimmers now swim in trunks that look a lot like bicycle shorts without the extra padding in the bottom).  Just the day before we bought him a pair of goggles so that it would be easier for him to side breathe without worrying about the water in his eyes (see more pictures after the jump).

A Lot of Heart

One of the Flipper coaches providing words of encouragment

Every morning, for the last three weeks, Boogie has gotten up five mornings a week, put on his swim trunks and we've headed to the pool for practice.  One thing I've noticed about my sweet Boogie. He has a lot of heart and not a lot of finesse, much like his mother.  I loved swim team, but was never the best swimmer. But that didn't matter because I LOVED it.

My husband doesn't get it. He grew up 45 minutes away and swim team was not a part of their norm. He didn't grow up getting up early for swim practice or spending his Saturday mornings at the pool swimming in multiple events, or cheering on his fellow swimmers. But I did and for our county, it is a HUGE deal and just about everyone joins. As one of the team reps told me, it's the only sport where 5 year olds participate alongside older teens. There is a sense of community among the swimmers. You spend most of your summer poolside, most of your day on Saturdays and one evening a week participating in meets, in addition to pep rallies, pasta dinners, and team building fun. It's a great life and I'm thrilled that Boogs is a part of it this year.

He was more nervous that we realized

We are winding down to our last week of swim team for my little Flipper.  He participated in his first mini-meet yesterday. It's a way for the little swimmers to experience what a meet would be like and to perform the skills they have learned. As with all the swimmers, Boogs was registered for the 5 & Under Kickboard race. However, last Friday, his coach asked me if he would like to swim in the 5 & Under Freestyle. I thought, "Why Not?"  So he was registered for that as well.

For weeks Boogs has swam the freestyle with his head in the water paddling away.  But wouldn't you know it, for the freestyle event, he swam with his head above water waving at me?  So silly. When I spoke to the coach about it, she said that most kids get so overwhelmed with the excitement and the crowds that they don't swim like they usually do. But Boogs did great! He earned a 5th place ribbon (out of 9 swimmers) for freestyle and I was sooooo proud.  He participated in the kickboard races as well.  My husband noticed that the faster he wanted to go, the more he bent his legs and kicked from his ankles, which only made him slower. He placed 19th overall in the kickboard races. There were a lot of kids swimming and many heats. It doesn't matter. He got out there and he did it. I am one very, very proud swim team Mama!

Being told to get in his start position

Swimming the freestyle event. The coaches are there in case the kids need them  along the way. Phew!