Just as girls got back to training, the first meet up already happened. Both of them didn’t want to participate, especially Sofia because they were concerned with seeing bad results. But, I didn’t let them (a topic I’ll write about more) and signed up anyway. Not every meet up is supposed to be for performance. Doing a sport means participate in all events, as long as we are here and not sick, and do our best no matter what.
First day was Friday afternoon at a new club facing the lake, gorgeous view.
I realized how swimming has shaped Sofia’s body. She wore her old tech suit and not the new one because she didn’t try the new one at home and was worried that she won’t be able to put it on.
The first day, each of them did two events and didn’t do as bad as they thought. We got home and went to sleep early.
Next day before I went out for my run, I prepared my “athletes” breakfast. Lizzy is a savory breakfast girl so I reheated a burrito, paired with smoothie and orange.
Sofia is a sweet breakfast girl so she had two muffins.
I love seeing girls hanging out with their teammates. What I find interesting is that they don’t meet up outside of swimming but can’t stop talking while together.
morning events went by and Sofia didn’t come in the afternoon as she had a birthday party. I went to see Lizzy’s last two events. I could sense she was disappointed, or not feeling great about herself, as most of her girls’ teammates in her age group got a medal or two and she didn’t. I didn’t know how to make her feel better, isn’t the hardest part of parenting seeing kids “suffer” and not sure what to do? But she put that energy into performance. In her last event, 50 meters backstroke, she pushed and got third place. She won her heat (2 out of 3) so I was quite impressed and relieved that she would get a medal after all, only to realize there’s another heat, bigger and older kids. Fortunately her time was still enough to get her third place, and finally a smile.
I am not sure my girls are talented for swimming but one would never know if quitting too soon. I reflected whether at any point girls asked to quit it because it got hard. They haven’t. Not necessarily because they love it, but because they haven’t found another sport that they love more, so they stick to swimming. Through swimming, they found new friendships, new method of training, new racing events, new cities, and the team spirit of an individual sport. Of course, swimming is a life skill that they master 100 better than me. Sofia keeps telling me that when we move to the next country, make sure they have swimming team. It is only after years of endurance of the sport, one finds comfort in it.
Sunday was catch homework day. They both had piano and mandarin lessons, and Sofia had school projects to finish.
The Filipina help that came twice didn’t come which annoyed us. Something that both husband and I value is reliability.
Yet, we had a relaxing day. Morning spent running, cooking, afternoon spent in naps, reading, a walk by the neighborhood where we tried chin up. I did 2, Sofia 2, Lizzy none. š
Monday fun: a consultation about hair transplant! hahahah….
Our New Journey 