This Summer is going to be vastly different than those of old.
Why do I think so? Because the previously unthinkable has happened.
Last Saturday, for the first time since 2002, I dropped my child off at our swim club’s important two-day June swim meet. And left. Yes. I beetled away from that damn outdoor pool as fast as humanly possible.
Just two years ago that would have been unthinkable. It was my job as swim mom to stay. To park, to unpack the tent, the canopy, the clothing bags, the towel bags, the coolers and the chairs. To holler at my two children to stop “playing the fool” and come and help set up camp for the day. I was merciless.
Last year, with my son swimming sporadically and coaching full time, I was asked to simply announce at this meet. However, with a current parent taking my place, there was no need to head for the announcing table and drop off my glasses and coffee prior to hunting down the mike, paper and several pencils and pens.
Instead, I simply left.
The freedom, the absence of guilt, the knowledge that my child was there to coach, not to swim and that he wanted me there even less than I wanted to stay? Pure heaven.
I’ve written about swim club swimming before. Regular readers may remember that I highly recommend swim club over regular swimming lessons. Your child learns to swim far quicker and the friendships and memories created over the summer are incredible. But one day all of the daily practices come to an end, the weekend swim meets aren’t yours to attend and you are no longer needed to announce, time, clerk or marshal.
The end result?
Ask me in September.
Ask Me In September
So far this Summer has been pretty special.
I’ve only had to chauffeur my lad to work once or twice. Used to travelling on the efficient subway system of his college city, he usually opts for our local one.
However I have been in the car with him more than usual. As a passenger. My son, the swim coach, is learning to drive. As a result I’ve found myself in an extraordinary situation of being stranded on a tiny island of safety sandwiched between a roaring train and a red light. See below for photographic proof. Classic Just TypiKel.
On a less precarious note, I was asked to join a pal and her friends at two of the opening games for the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
I’ve never sat in the recently renovated BC Place Stadium (host to both the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the 2010 Winter Olympics) with the dome open before. It was illuminating. This photo was taken in the late afternoon during the Cameroon/Ecuador match. The patch of sun is highlighting both players and fans. We were also treated to a world-class game between the defending world champ Japan and Switzerland. And between you and me, it was delightful to watch something other than swimming …
How will this Summer unfold without the strict structure of driving to and staying for multiple practices and never ending swim meets? Ask me in September.
However, with a very special family wedding taking place in July and the return home of my daughter in August, I’d say Summer is looking mighty fine.
May we all be treated to beautiful, wide open skies and peaceful waters.
This post was inspired by the Finish The Sentence prompt of “This Summer …'”
As always, our host is the lovely Kristi . Today’s guest hosts are Lisa of the Meaning of Me, Reta of Calculated Chaos and Allie of Latchkey Mom. Click on their names to be transported magically to the other posts on this prompt.
Enough about me and the concept of waiting to ask me in September. I’m curious about you. How’s your Summer unfolding? Same old, same old? Or have you a super hot one planned? If you’d care to share, I’d love to hear.
54 Responses
Summer seems to be looking mighty fine, indeed. And wow, how far they come, and how fast, huh? Selfishly, that part terrifies me a bit.
Oh I understand being terrified, Kristi. Time is a zoomin’ by. Just the other day, Mom asked me how old I was going to be on my next birthday (yes, she did) and her reply? “Golly, you make me feel old …”
What a beautifully glorious summer you have planned, Kelly! Although I am still traumatized by the photo and thought of you sandwiched between a hurtling train and a red light.
We are leaving for Israel via Amsterdam on Saturday, and I am excited to spend time in the country I love with the people I love – before we return home to move house!
Sending you summer love, peace and exquisite sunsets xxx
Now those are quite the summer plans, Nicki. Amsterdam, Israel and moving. Wonderful memories await! How very splendid indeed. I woke up last night and had a quiet grin. I should have written about the deck I need to waterproof and the grass that I am trying to resurrect and the downstairs storage room that needs organizing. That’s my true, authentic summer. Oh – and the goal of trying to avoid trains, naturally … Have a wonderful trip!
We’re kind of hanging loose this summer. We’re going to the beach over the July 4th weekend but haven’t really planned too much else. Looking forward to seeing what your thoughts on all this are in September!! xo
Thanks, Jill. Your summer sounds perfect. Unscripted and open.
I thought of you when I read about the schedule for the Women’s World Cup. How exciting!
Really? That’s cool, Kathy. It is kind of odd to have the games spread out over the country and not in just one city. However, we get the final which is wonderful. The Japan/Switzerland game was really professional. The crowd was amazed as everyone expected Japan to take the game handily. They won but with a score of 1 – 0 and on a penalty kick.
I am enjoying a summer free from the demands of travel baseball. How I spent every weekend in June and July the last 2 years sitting by a dusty (or muddy if it rained) field during the torture of watching 1 ball thrown by 1 person hit by 1 person for HOURS is beyond me.
I’m free!! My son tried lacrosse this year and it’s exciting to watch and already over for the season. Woo hoo!
Yay! Here’s to being FREE! You’ve reminded me of a swim mom who was also a baseball mom. She had to come to swimming provincials with her foot encased in a cast. An errant ball slammed into her ankle at baseball provincials. How’s that for excitement?
Oh I like your take on this summer…I hope you enjoy every moment of it!
Thanks, Kerri. You know, I also should have written about the joy of waterproofing my deck in 90 degree heat and spreading gobs of grass seed on my balding lawn. That is also in the cards. I hope your summer is splendid and a memory maker!
Well, in a way, you are certainly enjoying you own kind of adventure, aren’t you? Bittersweet, yes – but also liberating. I can’t wait to find out how it all unfolds!
Thanks, Allie. I really also should have written about the can of watersealer that is calling my name. Our deck needs redoing due to my son’s overly zealous effort. He scrubbed the hell out of it. Probably in an effort to get rid of the pent up delightful emotion of having to do it in the first place. Did I mention that it’s always 90 degrees out there on the deck?
“I beetled away . . . ” That made me smile. That photo of your “tiny island of safety sandwiched between a roaring train and a red light” . . . Oy! I’ve got one starting driver’s ed this summer. Your last photo of the lake made me exhale. Beautiful. I enjoyed this so much. Thank you.
Grinning here over the “I’ve got one starting driver’s ed this summer …” May you be treated to a train free experience! Speaking of “beetling” I won’t even venture to mention the fact that I rolled our volkswagon beetle while my dad was teaching me to drive. My son has his final before the road test lesson today. Fingers crossed …
Your summer sounds perfect Kelly, with a much deserved rest from endless swimming and water polo matches ! Enjoy the rest ( except for the deck and lawn repairs) and have a wonderful time at the wedding !
Thanks, Jane. Hope we can get in a coffee/adventure experience or six. Have a wonderful few days away as well and enjoy your conference. Still grinning over the soccer matches …
I don’t plan summer. Summer is when you get untied from that tortuous whalebone corset of a school schedule. Finally, life can go back to normal. Get up when I want, read the comics, eat, write, make a to-do list, putter around, feed the pets, start or continue a project, make an apron, sew a ruffle on some curtains, draw, make a collage, eat some more, dance and pantomime to music, play some video games.
But I don’t HAVE to do any of it. And best of all, it will not be interrupted by a horrifyingly early wake-up time, nor interrupted in the middle of the afternoon to do the routine chaufeurring. NO, in summer my plans are to be me again, not Robot Mother who goes through the tedious round dictated by the school system. In summer I am earth-mother and free spirit, who whistles nude through the woods, under the stars.
“Torturous whalebone of a corset” Yes! So very true, Tricia. You certainly sound like you know how to not only untie it but hurl it off into those woods and under those stars!
Your summer sounds just fabulous to me. I hope you really enjoy it.
Thank you, Melissa! I hope yours is splendid as well. We’ll have to do update posts come September!
Sounds like a great summer. I love our summers and wish they were longer. Have a great one!
Thank you. You too, Michele.
Hey Kelly, I am down to one child this summer to drive to and fro from her basketball practices and travelling committments with the team. I am a wee bit green with envy with your new found freedom.
However, my dog walking friend that gives you more time to walk with Sydney and myself!! See ya at the dog park.
Aw, thank you, Janice. Can’t wait to meet up with you to hear how the special weekend unfolded.
I’ve never been a swim mom, but I am looking forward to much less shuttling my kids around this summer now that one has her license. There is a chair at the pool with my name on it!
That pool deck chair is a delight. Enjoy every minute in it, Dana.
World Cup soccer?!?!?! You lucky gal! And I’m so happy that you have been able to pass the swim mom baton to the next group. More time for you to write about your adventures!!
Thank you, Mo! I just need to make sure I use that freed up time wisely. And yes, the World Cup games were incredible. So great to see a wealth of American fans there. Cheering on teams even though the Americans weren’t playing. Love that spirit.
Sounds pretty darn wonderful to me…..enjoy those lazy, hazy days of Summer! Me….I’m going to be doing my best to sell our house (not the one on wheels, the stick-n-brick house we still own in Indiana). My son and his bride (who were living there) have just moved out and into their new home. So it’s off to market it goes!
That will be such a welcome treat for you when you sell the house, Debbie. I hope it goes quickly and to people who will treasure it.
Sounds like a wonderful summer already starting! Well, except for the train part, lol. 🙂 As for me, I’m probably just going to be working working working. Maybe visit the pool at some point. 😀
Hope you do get to the pool for a splash or two this summer, Stephanie. Thank you for popping by and leaving a comment. I do appreciate it.
Summer- my favorite time of year. How wonderful that you are getting some special time for yourself. Enjoy and we’ll see you in September…
You betcha, Sue. Have a wonderful summer yourself.
Summers tend to be pretty boring around here now that my kids are grown and married. My husband works extremely long hours in the summer so we usually wait until after Labor Day to take our vacation although, with mom, we can’t go very far these days. I do have the new twins to play with and we do ALOT of canoeing and hiking when the weather permits…it’s 96 degrees today!
I am hoping the twins live nearby, Rena. How wonderful to be able to spend time with them. My niece has a 15 nonth old and I love hanging out with him. And it’s 96 degrees in your part of the world? Wow. That’s hot. I hope it cools down a bit or that you can escape with a hike or a paddle very soon.
Sounds like you have a wonderful summer ahead of you! True, it won’t have the fulfilling hectic feeling of swim mom summers — but you’ll be able to explore other joys of summer. Soccer, beach, maybe a road trip or two? I’m looking forward to your blog in September, when I’ll hear the recounting of a most remarkable summer for your family and you!
Aw thank you, Anna. It’ll be fun to see how the summer unfolds. Have to say it was a real treat to stay in bed this morning as I heard my son get ready to head out the door for coaching – at 06:00! Yay!
How wonderful for you, Kelly, to have some found freedom in this summer season. I imagine it will be a bit weird when they’re all gone, but enjoy the transition while you can ;-). As also, you write a delightful tale.
Hi Nanette! i’ve missed you. Hope you are doing ok. Yes, it is a bit wierd and I suspect it’ll get a bit wierder. But that’s ok. Change is good. And thank you again for your kind words. I’ll head over to your site now.
Sounds like an exciting new chapter in summers Kelly! Looking forward to hearing how it all turns out in September! This summer is full of new things, like my oldest heading to overnight camp and my youngest taking a bus to camp. But also a trip with just my husband for the first time in more than 7 years. I hope your newfound time is wonderful!
Oh a trip with just your husband sounds fun! I hope you have a wonderful time and that your children enjoy their camping experiences. Cant quite believe we are almost half way through June. I do feel as if I should be pressing the hold button to make things slow down a bit.
Oh Kelly, do I KNOW all about the swim practices and LONG meets and oh yes, VOLUNTEERING at them to boot!! I need to go read your posts about your years as a swim mom! You absolutely have EARNED your summer of freedom, and I am thrilled you got to kick it off watching world class soccer teams in an incredible venue. WOW.
Enjoy the wedding and your daughter’s arrival… and all those beautiful open skies, my friend!! I’ll definitely plan on hanging with you, in about ten years, so we can sit back with a yummy congratulatory drink and look at the sky together. LOL 😉 (Good LORD help me!!)
YES! You DO get it! Oh my, my, my. Isn’t it quite something? I mean I really wouldn’t change a thing. We’ve loved our swimming experiences and I have made some really wonderful friends over the years. But this morning when my son was creeping around the house at 6:00 AM waiting for his coaching bud to take him to the meet? Absolute Heaven. Heaven to just fall back to sleep. With a grin. As for getting together for a celebratory drink in ten years? I’m marking it on the calendar. Right. This. Minute.
It’s equal parts glorious and sad when the kids become more self sufficient, isn’t it? I’m looking forward to summer and the absence of meetings, sporting events, banquets, etc. So far our weather has been wonderful, but you never know how long that will hold out in Seattle. Susan and I missed you this weekend at the race – but hopefully we will be able to meet soon!
What a great way to put it, Lana. Yes. Equal parts glorious and sad. As for Rock And Roll – I thought of you and Susan on Saturday and am so glad you had a wonderful time. Next year I will join you both!
Ah, change and transition and growth – such a double-edged sword. Sounds like lots of good things are in store for you! And this – May we all be treated to beautiful, wide open skies and peaceful waters. Yes indeed!
Thanks, Lisa. I am getting a weensy bit alarmed at how fast June is zipping by…
I know! I’m trying really hard to find a way to slow down the time…only way I’ve found so far is to just enjoy being in the moment I’m in.
I think that’s very wise, Lisa.
I read this post quite a while ago Kelly – but didn’t get a chance to comment. I love the swim tent photo … and yes, I do identify with your experience! I thought I would miss it all a lot more than I do!! It is still fun for me to be able to attend a college meet once in a while – but I definitely don’t miss the long hours (days) of running one!
Hope the driving is going well and your son will soon have his license. My daughter was able to take a job quite far away this summer because she just took our car back to Seattle (only for the summer) – and I am quite nervous about her lack of big city driving experience.
Glad you got to see the soccer game!!
Thanks for coming back to leave a comment, Susan. Sorry it took me so long to get to answering. The driving is going well. I am about to write a post about just that in fact. Thinking of you and your water situation. Hope things are going swimmingly. Sorry …