Lesson Learned

Before I had kids, I made broad statements on parenting, but once I had kids, those statements seemed more like wishful thinking. For example, I once said "my kids are never going to eat at McDonald's." That "statement" was busted about the time the boys were two and I was looking for an indoor playland. Another time, I said that "my kids are never going to have a video game." That was busted about the time the kids were 5 and "Santa" bought them Leapsters.

This weekend, I "busted" another parenting statement. I swore that if my kids were in sports, I would not be a back-seat coach and I would let the coaches do their jobs. This weekend, the kids were in a swim meet. For the last six weeks, they have been practicing backstroke "flip turns". These turns are technically challenging because it requires that the swimmer know how many strokes from the flags (at the end of the pool) to the wall, and they use that count in the event to turn on their stomachs close to the wall, flip and then continue doing the backstroke. It's hard. BUT, the kids have been doing it in practice, and I know they can do it.

So, me, in my brilliant wisdom, told the kids that I didn't care what their times were for any of their events, but I did want them to try to do the backstroke flipturn (instead of just swimming into the wall, touching it and then going). First up, was Emily. The boys & I were waiting for her at the end of the pool. Then the boys tell me that they didn't practice their backstroke in the warm-ups and so they have no idea how many strokes it will take them from the flags to the end of the pool. Well, how can you do a backstroke flip turn then?! Unfortunately, it was too late to help Emily. Bless her little heart. She was doing an absolute perfect backstroke and was leading in her heat....until she tried to do her flip turn. She turned on her stomach too early. She didn't know what to do, so she stood up and started crying. I eventually convinced her to finish, but she was very upset. I should have just kept my mouth shut and encouraged them to have fun. Argh. Lesson learned. Coaches coach; not parents.

But, all is well that ends well. After an hour rain delay, Emily swam the best 50 meter breast stroke that we have ever seen her do, and she qualified for the state meet in that event with a time of 1:03:27. To qualify she needed at least a 1:10:59. Her smile at the end of that event made all the tears from the backstroke event a forgotten memory. Fortunately, her mom's memory is very long, and I don't think I will ever forget the lesson that I learned at this swim meet.