I'm a Happy Swim Mom

It hasn't been an easy year for Peirce. I think it all boils down to the fact that we all go through ups and downs. Sometimes kids are right on top of things, and sometimes they spend time trying to figure out what they can get away with. Peirce is no different. Both school and swimming has had its ups and downs this year. I was so happy when I received this email from one of the swim coaches:

 

 

 

Hello Dawn!

I should have sent this yesterday but the day got away on me.

I just wanted to let you know that Pierce was so great on Wednesday night - very attentive, listened well and I saw huge improvements in all his turns. He was focused and really applied himself.

Please let him know that I was very impressed with how well he did and want him to think of how far along he could be in his swimming career if he applied that kind of focus to every practice. He has a lot of natural talent, uses the water really well and is very strong. He has everything physically it takes to be great in this sport. I saw it Wednesday, so I know it is in him and my expectations for him have been greatly increased ;)

Thanks again for your part in making him more engaged because he did just a fantastic job.

 

 

 

 

 

I was so proud of him. It really made me think about how important it is for me to share good news with kids I rub shoulders with. This email buoyed me up and made me feel so proud of Peirce. He's had his hard times, but he's working through them and doing a great job.

 

I'm so grateful my kids have swimming. I sometimes complain about swimming. It takes a lot of time and money and energy from my life. I haven't always had positive experiences volunteering and being a parent in the club, which has made it hard. However, my kids love it and their lives are improved because of it. They work hard. They have goals. They have positive role models. They have great kids to rub shoulders with. They are pushed physically. And they enjoy it! Whenever we have had an issue and have gone to the coaches for help, they have always addressed it in a way that has solved the problem and helped everyone improve as a result. It's always been a positive experience. I'm so grateful for that.

 

Friday night our kids both were in bed at 9:00. They go to bed early because we have early mornings. Even on Saturday Jill has swim practice (next year Peirce might be joining those ranks). I don't even really have to nag them to get to bed. Jill wants to do well at practice, so she goes to bed. Peirce follows suit. It's really a great blessing in our lives.

 

Put your kids in swimming. You won't regret it!

 

Freckleface Strawberry

Today Peirce and I volunteered at Storybook Theatre. They moved to Beddington and so we were even able to walk there! And best of all, we got to do our favorite job: selling the treats! We had a great time doing that (although Peirce thought the cupcakes were way overpriced....I'd have to agree)

The play was Freckleface Strawberry. It's a story about a girl who doesn't like her freckles. She goes through phases of trying to get rid of them and wishing she was like everyone else, and in the end, realizes she's just fine the way she is. It's really a wonderful story. I'd like to have all the kids in our school go see it! It would work perfect with our Character Education.

Best of all, it's a musical. They did a superb job of the music. I would totally recommend going to see it!

Turns out.....

Yesterday we drove to Raymond for a funeral. I love going on road trips because it is a great time for reading. Yesterday I read an amazing book called The Book Whisperer. I found a kindred spirit in Donalyn Miller! She is obsessive about reading too! She believes the same things I believe about reading. The beautiful part is now I finally have some tools for implementing what I believe into my daily classroom practices.

Poor Allen got to listen to me read excerpts, listen to me rant and rehash and think out loud about how I can make this work in my classroom. He is a good sport. I love that he loves reading too.  On Wednesday I had a reading tragedy. I was reading what I thought was the 2nd book in he Silverwing series. I was volunteering at the hockey game and had arrived a little early...well, I thought I was a little early. Turned out the game was an hour later than I realized so I was REALLY early. That was okay because I had a great book and relished the thought of having an hour or so to get deep into it. As I read though I realized I might be reading the wrong book. I went into the Flames office to get someone to google the library phone number. "I have a reading emergency!" I said. They chuckled and in the conversation one lady said, "I probably haven't read a book in 20 years." As I told Allen this story his lip curled. He said, "That is so embarrassing. Why would she say that out loud? That's like saying you haven't brushed your teeth in 20 years."

I fell a little more in love with him in that moment.

Anyway, back to The Book Whisperer:

Donalyn Miller has a blog. I was excited to get on the computer and read it. Sadly, the last post I found was from 2012. My heart sank. She is off the band wagon? How can it be?!

I kept looking - only to find out she is the created of Nerdy Book Club! This is a bog I read faithfully every day. I am amazed with this blog. They have new people write for it all the time. They have great info. I get a lot of great book ideas and great bogs to read from The Nerdy Book Club. As a matter of fact, I was just telling Allen yesterday about how great that blog is. Too funny. I have been sidling up to Donalyn Miller for months (years?) and didn't even know it.

It does my heart good to have days like this. I am so excited about reading with my students!