Calm Before the Storm

This weekend is the lull before the storm.  Although L started year-round swim a few months ago, she was just practicing with them, not competing with them.  She was on the city swim team here in the Tri-cities and was competing there.  Both year-round and city swim at once.  


The city team ended last month.  So she will swim competitively with the year-round team now.  Additionally, on Monday, high school swim team starts.  Both high school and year-round at once.


The year-round meet that was on the calendar for today was rescheduled.  I'm sitting here thinking how calm this Saturday feels--no practices, no meets, and actually, no other obligations that made it on my calendar.  I can barely relax to enjoy it, because I am psychologically gearing up for the next four months of early practices, getting up at 3:50 a.m., and this year, there will be practices after school on certain days, and practices on Saturdays.  This year, I will be working my part time job and cannot drive on my work days. I have yet to cobble together a carpool.  I am also in charge of a swim fund-raiser starting next week.


All of this swimming stuff going on in my life and my best-kept secret is I really can't swim, at least I cannot swim any of the official strokes. Shhh. Don't tell. 


As a kid,  I invented my own stroke, a kind of dog-paddle/freestyle stroke that I am sticking with.  It gets me around the pool without getting my hair very wet, it keeps me from drowning, and I can see where I am going while I am swimming  (remember I have really poor vision without my glasses).  :o)  


At least I do know how to drive and am licensed; I own a van; I am a good sport; I enjoy the kids; I can wake up when the alarm goes off; I can entertain myself hours on end; I like popular music (which the kids always like to have on in the van); and I love L.  These are the important qualifications for me to be a swim mom and let's face it, cheering from the deck is about as close to the water as I get anyway.