Swimmers

Grace and Sam were my only kids that participated in swim team this year. Ethan would like to make it known that he isn't a quitter; he was just busy between his job and online classes. Libby would probably present similar excuses. I think they just didn't relish getting in the pool at 7:30 every morning for the first six weeks of summer. Babies.

This is Grace's second year and Sam's first year (nobody got kicked out this year!). Grace started out the year insisting she could only do home meets and only one event at each. She was so anxious about the meets that she could hardly function. At the first home meet, she was almost in tears before her event. Halfway through the season she decided she loves meets and started signing up for all of them, in as many events as possible. She even swam butterfly, which is a first for any of my children.  Sam did not share her anxiety or her later excitement. He just kind of followed along. He did become a much stronger swimmer this year, which is the reason I keep putting them in swim.

At the last meet Grace took 6th out of 30 kids for breast stroke and Sam got 3rd out of 10 kids for the same stroke. It was fun to see them place. My kids are usually among the slowest swimmers. Grace was bitter that Sam got 3rd and she only got 6th, until I explained percentiles to her. Then she happily told everyone she was 6th out of 30 and Sam only competed against 10 kids, every time Sam mentioned getting third place. Sigh. We are working on sportsmanship.

Grace also just mastered diving and flip turns, so she is excited to see how it will improve her time in the All City Meet. I was hoping to skip this two day, all day event, but she is determined. I guess I will go and support her. It's what a good parent would do, but nobody said I can't whine a little bit.