It all began with long-overdue swim lessons.
After an early dinner, two exhausted kids and low expectations stumbled behind me into the gym to drop off the paperwork. The 6pm time slot was the only one left, so we had no choice.
We slumped into damp chairs in steamy, chlorine-thick air. While I sat through 22 torturous minutes of watching the group before theirs, shielding “is it our turn yet is that my teacher no maybe her or is it him?” I made a cranky joke on Facebook.
Obviously, one of my kids (I’m looking at YOU, pint-sized pony-tailed Drama Queen who puts her thumbs on Shouty Time Outs) is gonna cry, wasting time and money.
Then the other will suddenly decide Dry is the new Wet and glue himself to the locker room doorknob for the next 30 minutes.
I was too tired to even care about the scene. I just wanted to get it all over with. I was ready for the inevitable.
As the kids names were called, I got the towels ready for catching running, weeping offspring.
It’ll be over soon.
I’ll have a snarky story of screaming kids or sexy life guards to share.
And then she walked right into the arms of a stranger in red’s encouraging smile. She floated on her back all by herself, a feat that had her in hysterics only two days ago.
He wore optimism and a SpongeBob swimsuit. He kicked and focused and recovered from swallowing water with a grace even Michael Phelps’ mom has never seen.
They were brave and patient.
They were good listeners who cheered on the rest of their little groups.
They tried and succeeded at everything thrown their way.
They were proud.
In the end, I blamed their giddy wet hugs for the droplets on my cheeks
But they weren’t the only proud ones last night.
Exactly how much longer can I call them “My Babies”?
Thinking negatively is my mantra. That way, I’m almost always pleasantly surprised.
Kathy at kissing the frog recently posted..Acceptance is the Hardest Thing
LOL! That’s one way to look at life, I guess. So good comes more often. I like it.
Fabulous! What a great story.
just keep swimming recently posted..Ninja Mom With Swimming Telephone
Thanks!
Awww. That was awesome. I loved the way you defied our expectations as well as your own by setting us up exactly like you set yourself up and then letting us experience their joy.
Jester Queen recently posted..Monster Train Dance
It was so like that. I even wrote it down while they were still in class, risking a wet phone and all.
Awwww, I love getting pride-ambushes like this. Happy for you and your clever kids
Thank youu!
Sometimes the universe hands you a little piece of awesome to make up for the moments of suckitude. So glad you had this experience!
Exactly. And I ate it alll up.
Yay for a good day!
I remember I hated my first swim lessons, mostly because I was thrown in the pool against my will and had water shoved up my nose. But once that trauma had passed, I was hooked. Not only is it a great life skill to have, but a social one to boot (and I ended up with a school record in high school.)
It’s great when they find something they truly like to do. Now hopefully lesson two goes as well…for all of you
Abby recently posted..My Batman
I was thrown in a lake. It’s nice to see that the teaching methods are improving since we were kids!
I, too, am hoping today’s lesson goes just as well. Crossing all fingers….
I need a hanky reading this!!
Frugalistablog recently posted..Am I Fat?
I needed one writing it.
awesome!
kids will surprise you. At my teenager’s cheer competition saturday she looked exhausted, cranky, and out of it, then she nailed the dance, the stunts, everything.
congratulations. good luck with the speedo wearing coaches
Lance recently posted..Freak On A Leash
I love when they pull through like champs. Yay for your cheerleader!
Unfortunately, none of the swim teachers were hot. *sigh* There’s always the lifeguards to check out…
Awwww. Isn’t is awesome when your kids grow up, right before your eyes? Yay, little Let Me Start By Sayings!
JD @ Honest Mom recently posted..Motherhood + Antidepressants = Zero Libido. Sound Familiar?
Yes, yes it is…
This brought a little tear to my eye, too. I love “recharge” moments like that. Just when I wonder how I’m ever going to get through the day… bonus random moment of validation! Of course, since my kids are 20 and 6 months respectively, I currently have to sustain myself on 400 watt smiles, impromptu giggles, and never-before-seen toddler goofiness (though she’s starting to really “figure stuff out” now, and blurt out unexpected and impressive phrases, which is awesome beyond compare). I’m looking forward to experiencing the evolution of their capability to surprise me, and remind me of why it’s all so amazingly worthwhile.
Sharon @ Finding Vanilla Octopus recently posted..Singin’ About the Blues
That morning, we got home from the airport at 330am, and the kids were low on energy, patience and sleep. I was SHOCKED, in the best way possible.
This is awesome! I really wasn’t expecting the positive twist at the end – great story and well-written!
Kristen Mae recently posted..I Used to Be a Really Good Violist
Thanks, Kristen!
That’s great! I love it when my kids surprise in good ways instead of torturous ones!
Sanstrousers recently posted..Poop: The Indignities Of Parenthood
Yes, good is better than torture, any day.
Very Sweet!
So, so sweet.
Aw, that’s great.
Annabelle recently posted..The Cure for Summer Boredom
Thanks, Annabelle!
Ha ha… “Dry is the new Wet.” I love it!!!
Steph at The Healthy Mom recently posted..Wordless Wednesday – The Essence of Summer
You know how those boys change their minds…
Proud mama indeed! So great when they turn a corner like that
I was surprised at how emotional I got over it. Happily, weedily surprised.
Love it! This is especially timely for me, as I have been doing something today that I never do. Shoving my phone in friends’ faces so they can watch the video that I took last night of my little Dude swimming on his own for the first time. I relate to your tears!!! Amazing, isn’t it?
Ali recently posted..The Confessional
I kept texting my husband THIS IS SO CUTE! YOU GOTTA SEE THIS! OMG THEY ARE SO ADORABLE!!! like a complete nut job. For 30 minutes.
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