Winter Swim!

The boys had their first indoor swim meet of the season today. This was complicated by the fact that Chris was out of town and, well, swim meets are crazy, chaotic, messes. It is hundreds of kids, their parents, their coaches running here, there and everywhere. I knew there wasn't a chance I could handle two swimmers and their respective events and an, ahem, spirited three-almost four year old. Not a chance.

Thankfully, my mom stepped in to take Griffin for the morning. Or as Griffin likes to say, he had a "playdate with Grandma Jo Jo." Yes, a playdate that involves pancakes, toys r us and candy. Life doesn't get better than that for a preschooler.

Aidan, Brennan and I were off to the meet. This is the first year that the parents were not allowed to choose the events for their swimmers. Instead, the coaches determine where your children will swim. This meant that for the first time Aidan was swimming butterfly and a 50 freestyle, on top of a freestyle relay, 25 freestyle, and backstroke. For Brennan's first ever indoor swim meet, he was set to swim breaststroke (never swam before in a meet), backstroke (never swam before in a meet), a 25 free (only event he has ever swam before in a meet) and a 50 free (Dear God, please make sure the lifeguard never takes his eyes off my child and that he doesn't drown. Amen.)

(I know you think I am kidding with that prayer, but I said practically the same thing to every parent within shouting distance the minute Brennan hit the blocks for the 50 free. That and, please do not let him drown. Please.)

So, you can imagine my surprise when Brennan won his heat for the 50 free. WON HIS HEAT PEOPLE. Yes, it was the lowest ranked heat (we like to call it the controlled drowning heat) for boys 8 and under, but wow. Just wow, I was so unbearably proud. He just kept chugging along that pool until he reached the finish line. Brennan also won his heats for backstroke and 25 free. Again, they are the lowest rated heats, but I was really, really proud of him.

And in the even more color me surprised category, Aidan also won his heat in the 50 free. Aidan was placed in the third highest heat. He executed a beautiful dive into the water, stayed steady throughout the race, did the sweetest flip turn (upon which I yelled out so loud - "I didn't know he could do that!" that three rows turned around to look at the loud lady in the back) and then he took it. I couldn't believe it. It was quite an accomplishment for him. Aidan also won his heat in 25 free and just missed the 25 backstroke by a millisecond. Afterwards, one of the parents next to me, turned and asked how long he has been swimming. At my story of Aidan as the crazy, crying kid who refused to get in the water, he shook his head and said, "that kid is a natural." Who would have ever thought? Not me.

I was very proud of both my boys. We struggled alot this fall with deciding which activities the boys should do. I do not want to be one of those overwhelmed and overscheduled families with extremely stressed out kids. The boys like swimming and they are doing well at it, but I am not sure they love it. They also want to try basketball and continue with soccer and snowboarding. They enjoy baseball and golf. Aidan is obsessed with doing another mini-triathlon and Brennan is in love with mountain biking. Add their schoolwork into the mix and it can be really tough to pick and choose, particularly when you have other kids who are doing it all and doing it all with crazy intense focus. After alot of debate and discussion, we decided to stay with swimming this year, but cut down on the practices the boys attend. Instead of Aidan swimming four times a week, he swims twice and instead of Brennan swimming two times a week, he swims once. It seems to work for them. And after watching them today at the meet, seeing the joy and sense of accomplishment and pride on their faces after each race, I am very glad we stuck with it.