R is for Reward

     Today was the awards banquet for my daughter's swim team.  We actually held it at a banquet hall this year.  This was really nice because it meant that we didn't have to do as much actual work and could enjoy the banquet as well as time with our kids and their team.

     This was also the last time our team will be together in tact before everyone goes off in their own directions.  It was strange and there are some things that felt uncomfortable to those of us staying, but it's all water under the bridge and it's time to move on.  So much so that the woman who has agreed to be vice president of the parent board and I did some campaigning.

     Our parent board has 8 positions that require parent volunteers.  Terms are usually 2 years long.  I have served on the board as secretary for the past two years.  I have volunteered to take the president seat for the next season.  This meant we still needed 6 people to volunteer to fill up our board.  We managed to get volunteers for all positions during the banquet.  I am so proud of us!  And, I'm even more proud of those parents who are staying for stepping up to the plate.  I think we're going to have an awesome season next year.

     Before I end this I must brag that my daughter got "Most Improved" swimmer award (reward) this year.  I was so excited to hear her name called for this.  She's worked so hard all season.

H is for Heartbreak

     I mentioned a few days ago that my daughter's swim team is going through some major changes.  All three coaches have resigned.  It's become a very emotional time for everyone involved with the team.  YMCA teams tend to become a family.  We spend enormous amounts of time together.  Being a parent of a swimmer means you are very involved in what is going on because you have to be part of running the meets.  Even at away meets, teams have to provide timers to help run those meets, too.

     Losing one coach is hard.  Losing two coaches really hurts.  But, losing three (and in our case, all) your coaches is heartbreaking in so many ways.  All three coaches have been part of the team for many years.  Two of them since they were swimmers, themselves.  So, it's very emotional for them to leave something that has been such a big part of their lives.

     But, it goes even deeper than that.  Since our Y has not yet hired any new coaches, the uncertainty of what will happen has driven almost all our swimmers and their families to different teams.  It also means noone has volunteered to be part of the parent board next year.  Basically, it feels like our team is falling apart.

     I have been part of the parent board for the last two years.  This is a board that has worked endlessly to grow a team that was starting to struggle into a thriving team.  We more than doubled the number of swimmers on our team.  We had the two most profitable years our team has ever seen.  And, this year we took more swimmers to "state" (a meet you have to qualify for) than the team has taken in about a decade.

     Now we are down to probably less than 10 swimmers staying to see what happens.  My daughter is one of the swimmers that wants to stick it out.  It's so hard to take her to practice and see so many people missing.  Not only has my daughter made friends and grown close to her teammates, but I have grown close to and made friends with so many of the parents. 

     This is the place my daughter found her passion.  It's where she learned to love a sport and found a place to belong as part of a team.  It is where I watched her come alive as an athlete.  Something that I did not find until I was in my second year of high school.  And, because of this I fell in love with the sport myself, even if I don't actually participate in the sport as a swimmer.

     So, now I keep swinging from complete saddness, to reminding myself that things always work out and feeling hope back to saddness. And, in between, I fight anger that really has no place to be directed towards.

     No matter what, I know, what will be will be and our time with the Stingrays will always be a special time to remember.  I just hope it's not over entirely.  It just really is a heartbreaking situation right now.

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