Today is “Parent’s Day” at the boys’ swimming lessons. I hate Parent’s Day, I really do.
I think I’m a fairly participatory parent, as far as swim lessons go. I don’t bring a book or wait in the lobby. Nope, once a week, I’ll perch on an inevitably damp bench and sit in 900% humidity, paying careful attention for the sporadic occasions when one of them looks over so I can throw them my most enthusiastic thumbs-up and encouraging smile.
But why, oh why, do I have to get wet? Why can’t I just sit on my damp bench and sweat in peace? I’m happy to listen to whatever the teacher has to say, to reinforce the lessons whenever possible and offer ample opportunities for practicing the week’s lesson at whatever pool we’re lucky enough to inhabit during the week. But really, do I have to get into the pool?
I remember Tristan’s first set of independent swimming lessons… I’d (gasp!) forgotten it was Parent’s Day on lesson five, and was so mortified to be without a bathing suit when we arrived that I almost jumped in in my jeans. (I was such a pleaser back then.)(I’ve so gotten over that now.)(Mostly.)
No such luck this time around. The boys are beside themselves, torqued beyond the usual sky-high level of excitement, because today is Parent’s Day. (Simon already says Tuesday is his favourite day of the week, because it’s swimming lessons day. He said having me come in the pool is almost as exciting as Christmas. No chance I’m staying dry tonight.)
As if one Parent’s Day weren’t enough of a challenge, I’ve got concurrent Parent’s Days… I get to divide my half hour between Tristan’s and Simon’s classes, in two different pools (luckily, in the same complex at least.) Beloved gets to stay home and put the baby to bed.
Tristan’s class is working on jumping off the 10m platform. I think I might accidentally spend most of the half hour with Simon’s class, practicing my back float.
You are a much better parent than I am… I send The Man.
You don’t bring a book to swim lessons? Wow, you are a pleaser 🙂 Luckily for me, at the last place we had swim lessons the viewing gallery was up high above the pool and SG couldn’t see me without her glasses. I tried to look up now and then anyway so I could say afterwards “I saw you do a great dive!” or “You were working hard on your backstroke, hunh?” But hey, that’s my book time.
I hope you had fun despite your misgivings.
I’m with you on this one—thumbs-upping on the damp bench for every lesson, but in no way interested in joining in on weighted ring retrieval exercises. Even on vacations, I’m more of a quick dip and hit the sauna kinda Mom. Splashing antics are for Daddies. And they are best viewed from a poolside deck chair while wrapped in a fluffy towel and relaxing under a heavenly heat lamp. Parent’s Day is known as Dad’s Day in our house!
I must admit that last parents day I didn’t go in… M didn’t seem to mind. Thank goodness 🙂
You jumped in in jeans really? That’s so funny! What a good Mommy! I relate though I get very sick of parent’s days. Truth be told, I am there most of the time anyways, like every day is parent’s day for me so don’t obligate and mandate that I must be there. I can’t keep them straight anyways and then I feel like crap for forgetting it was parent’s day and no I won’t be the Mommy whose child is the only child without hands on parent present and in the room/ pool/ gym lesson/. Oh man and then there are field trips…I actually had three times this May/June when I needed to be on field trips with both my children in separate grades at separate schools on same day. Like parenting isn’t enough I need to be shamed and cloned and stressed over field trips.
Parent’s day for swimming lessons? You’ve GOT to be kidding me.