and the meet went swimmingly

once upon a time, there was a swim school.  this swim school offered a pretty cool facility with 90* water, 93* air temp and classes for no more than 4 kids to teach them how to swim.  and after swim classes were accomplished, kids moved up to a rec team.  and with that rec team came occasional swim meets.  people were interested in this concept.  people joined.  us included.

it's been over 3 years since we first joined.  h took her lessons as far as she could go.  she moved up to rec team in september, and with that came the opportunity to participate in a swim meet.  she was nervous.  she did not want to participate.  we thought she could totally do it and wanted her to give it a try, so we forced highly encouraged her to swim.  together, we signed up and chose 2 races for her to complete, 2 races with the shortest distance and her best strokes.  25m freestyle and 25m backstroke.  the build up to this day was filled with so many questions, so many doubts, so much nervous energy, a few tears.  we encouraged, answered questions, build up self esteem, loved.  just what parents are supposed to do.  i knew she needed the challenge, and i knew she could crush it.

we arrived to goldfish, and she got herself ready.  and then she got more nervous as more and more people showed up.  she doesn't like to be around a lot of people.  she much prefers small groups.  she was worried and nervous, but her swim coach, maggie, and i gave her the facts and tried to ease her concerns.  i told her to breathe, and to find her bravery. 

she stood on deck after warm-up before the team cheer, one of the smallest in the group.  i watched through the window and felt my heart beating right up in my throat for her.  is this what it's like with each and every competition your child competes in?  goodness.  it can be nerve wracking!  

she was assigned to the first race.  the other 2 girls in her race were her age, one in her weeknight rec team class and the other in her class at school.  i think that eased her mind a bit.  

the coach called out.  "swimmers ready.  go."  and in she went.  

she didn't swim the fastest, but she swam with such amazing form.  her freestyle was perfection.  i think she would have swam faster if she hadn't kept looking over to her racemates and what they were doing.  but that's her, she's pretty social.  

and then in 25m, she finished.  second place.  32.23 seconds.  i don't think i could have wiped my smile away, i was so dang proud of her.  i took a deep breath.  one race down.  one to go.  

she went back in line, socializing with the other girls.  waiting for her next race.

and then it was her turn for the 25m backstroke.  this is her stroke.  maggie has been perfecting it for the last year.  and maggie was her biggest sideline cheerleader.  see her below?

harper glided gracefully to the finish and another second place.  36.14 seconds.

and we saw the biggest smile on her face when she exited the pool and was handed her ribbon.  whether it was from pride for what she accomplished or relief at being done with the meet, it didn't matter.  i saw a glimpse of pure happiness.

we left that swim school, and headed for some celebratory froyo.  i couldn't stop telling her how proud we were for her bravery and for accepting the challenge and for asking the questions to ease her worries.  she was such a rock star, and i secretly think she knew it.  

last swim

we first enrolled harper in goldfish swim class in august 2011.  the facility was brand new and we knew that swimming was a life-long activity that we wanted her to be strong in.  my brother and sister were both awesome swimmers and on a swim team.  my mom tells me that because i was dragged around to so many swim meets, i decided not to pursue a team, but i still learned to swim.  i even took a swimming course in college for a 1-credit requirement.  i love swimming, and michael grew up with a pool, so we knew we wanted our kids to be safe in the water and enjoy it, too.  never did i imagine that we would meet maggie, harper's swim teacher from day 1, who has become a part of our family.  she now teaches crosby's swim lessons, she babysits, we have dinner with her family.  we just adore maggie.  

so i think i had the hardest time letting go of when it was time for harper to move on from lessons with maggie to goldfish's rec team.  i just didn't want harper's time with maggie to end, but maggie taught her so much, made her so strong and confident in the water and got her as far as she could before she had to move up for the next challenge.  after a week-long jump start clinic in august, it was finally put in writing on her progress report that harper would move on.  but i just kept delaying when her last thursday swim class would be.  september 11th was it.  

harper was a goof-off most of the class, being silly, having fun, making jokes, laughing, knowing this was her last class.

when class was over and it was finally time to say good-bye, i was the one who honestly had to hold back the tears.  harper just kept hugging maggie, and when maggie said she would miss harper, harper just confidently said that she would still see her at goldfish and at our house, of course.

maggie, thank you from the bottom of our hearts for supporting our girls in so many ways, and loving them greatly.  we think you are one special person, and are thankful that you are in our life. ♥  

namasplash

the girls and i participated in a fun event at goldfish tonight.  namasplash combined kids yoga and a family swim, both things i love!  thanks for our favoritest swim coach, maggie, for some fun photos, too.

butterfly and a goldfish event

i missed swimming yesterday.  i never miss swimming.  i hate missing swimming.  but maggie caught my girl learning the butterfly.  and i was impressed.  this girl can do anything she puts her mind to.  and given the support and guidance from the awesome staff at goldfish, she rocked her first fly.

goldfish has an awesome event coming up this weekend on february 22nd...namasplash.  it's their first yoga and swim family event.  this combines 2 of my favorite activities, and if i could be there, i would!  but you can be there!  time is 4:30-6:30.  kids and parents start out with a 30 minute kid-friendly yoga class followed by a 45 minute family swim.  cost is $30 per child, and is appropriate for ages 3 and up with a parent to accompany them.  sounds super fun and if i were you, i'd go.  sign up by calling goldfish at 734-864-5555.  find more about the event here on their facebook page.  now go sign up!

star

there's no doubt we love goldfish swim school- i've talked it up many times before.  this month, we are so proud of our little swimmer and all of her hard work.  she's been swimming weekly since august 2011, and this month we learned she is the star student of the month!  she couldn't be happier and more proud of this accomplishment and each week she just nails it.  she gets better and better, and loves it (and ms. maggie!) more and more.

give it a try.  check out an open swim.  come to an event.  try out a class.  i promise you won't be disappointed. ♥  

goldfish march of dimes event

if you're looking for something to do, here's information for the march of dimes family swim event -  a really fun upcoming event at goldfish swim school to support an awesome cause.

november 17^th is national prematurity day so all proceeds will be going to local hospitals specifically funding premature births.   the event will be sunday november 17^th from 5-6:30pm.   come and enjoy light snacks and your chance at winning tons of cool stuff in a raffle!

heck, just come for the warm pool and the awesome swim toys!

goldfish underwater event!

"hello ms. maggie!  we'd like to buy some snacks."

we love our goldfish swim school and are always looking to support in any way we can!  here is a fun upcoming event...

*looking to spice up your holiday card, or just show off your child’s swim skills?  check out our underwater photos with ms. maggie!  sign up for a 15-minute time slot:

          friday november 15th     9 am-12:45 pm

          saturday november 16th     2-3:45 pm

          sunday november 17th     8-9:45 am

call the front desk to schedule your time slot!

can't say enough about swim...and an open house

if you've been settled here for a while, you know how oh-so-happy i am with our swim school.  goldfish and our swim teacher, maggie, have been so good for us the last 2 solid years.  tonight, we saw how truly speedy harper is, as she zoomed across the pool 6 times in a circle swim with her fast-kicking feet.  and we witnessed crosby swim from the ledge to the underwater table mostly on her own with only some guidance.  it was a pretty awesome day of swim class.

there is so much i love about goldfish, but i mostly love that my girls love it.  nary do i hear a complaint or a grunt when they realize it's swim day and they get to see maggie.  these teachers are all so enthusiastic and supportive, and i can't talk enough about it.

and a heads up...if you're interested in swimming at goldfish, consider joining them for the back-to-school bash on saturday, september 14th from 2:30-6:30 pm.  this is a completely free event open to everyone, complete with face painting, a bouncy house, family swimming, food, beverages and prizes!

even if you're already a goldfish swimmer, join in on the fun!  and if you bring a new friend and they enroll, you get a referral reward!  how awesome is that!?