My younger two are greeted by their adorable and awesome teenage helper at the finish line before a meet.
When we recently moved back to Glen Allen and my kids heard about other kids in the ‘hood joining swim team, they all got excited about it and all three decided to take the plunge (pun intended) at once.
Little did I know that a world of education was awaiting me and, thanks to the fabulous swim team parents of the Hungary Creek Marlins, I’ve been able to manage to get us successfully through most of the season without major distress. If you’re considering signing up your little darlings for swim team, here are a few pointers I’ve learned that I’m happy to share:
1) This could cost you. In addition to the pool membership, I shelled out an additional few hundred dollars for fees, swim team swag, and top-of-the-line required Speedo suits (which are also adorable and only found at Nova in Richmond). We looked at it as an investment in their swimming skills and of course a great phsyical activity for summer, so it’s a worthwhile expense but one we weren’t prepared for. So far it’s proven to be money well-spent. (Children, enjoy your ramen noodles this summer!) Side benefit: those speedos are the cutest on little boys.
Who knew goggles had so many uses?
2) Latch on to a swim team parent, they know what’s up. They’ll see that glazed-over look in your eye and jump in to help: the noble veteran-swim-team moms and dads who boldly come back year after year to cheer on wet, soggy youth at the finish line. It is they who have taught me how to time two swimmers simultaneously, explained the lengthy swim meet process and that it’s critical to look at that relay board at mid-meet (I learned this the hard way, after learning they were calling out my son’s name after we left, not realizing he was supposed to be part of a relay. Oops!)
3) Clear you calendar. Especially if it’s a rainy season. Apparently “no other year has been as rainy as THIS year” but 3/5 meets we’ve found ourselves schlepping all three kids, a cooler and duffel bags stuffed with wet towels back into our car to wait out thunderstorms because everyone gets the boot at the first sign of lightning/thunder. Usually this is after my six-year-old’s 6th trip to the snack bar and she has to go to the bathroom. If the meet is called–and in my experience, these dedicated die-hards don’t like to cancel–the next night you’ll be back poolside ready for the 50+ event meet to continue.
4) Speaking of 50+ events, be prepared for some loooong swim meet nights. Since my eldest is always in event number 47 (keep in mind some events have several heats), I’ve learned the hard way that preparation is key, so my husband and I each drive and take turns taking the little ones home as their eyelids start drooping over their blood-shot, chlorine-ridden eyes. If you’ve got little kids, you’ll get out of there mucho earlier so congrats! You may actually get an hour of downtime at night.
Did somebody say SNACK BAR?!
Gold, silver, bronze, or participation ribbon: high-fives all around.
5) A sense of humor is a life-saver. Whether it’s jockeying-for-position or a coveted poolside table before the meet, sweating buckets in Richmond humidity for hours or realizing that you’ve forgotten your snack bar donation (again) requiring a last-minute Wawa run, laughing at the insanity of it all helps immensely.
My son modeled this behavior well after coming home late one night after I’d bathed the two younger ones, shouting “Mom! I got a silver!”
“Awesome!” I responded.
“Yep,” he said, “Dad told me the best way to get a silver was to swim against just one other guy, and that’s just what I did.”
