Tonight was our first swim meet. Ryan did well, though not as well as she would have liked. She swam a medly relay (the breaststroke leg), a 50-meter freestyle, a 25-meter backstroke, and a 25-meter breaststroke. She hates the breaststroke. Hates it. Lots of kids do, as they find it the most difficult stroke to master (certainly, it's the one we issue the most 'disqualification' tickets for in meets). I've always found that weird, as it was the stroke I found easiest and the most natural to do... still do, in fact. But my kid loves the butterfly (and does it well). Unfortunately, she wasn't slated to swim it tonight for some reason... hopefully she will in the next meet.
So, tonight, on the up side, her strokes/technique were fantastic! I was so pleased. On the down side, her speed wasn't where either of us would have liked it, but as she said after her last event, "I just have to practice harder to beat myself... and that shouldn't be hard!" I laughed but that statement was really, really big for Ryan. She's a terrible loser. She beats herself up like crazy when she doesn't perform well, no matter what she's doing. All I ever ask for is her best, even if her best sucks, but she expects miracles from herself sometimes. I was worried last year when she ended up her first meet with 2 first place finishes, afraid she'd set a precedent she couldn't maintain. And my fear was that if she didn't maintain it, she'd do nothing but put herself down (and in turn, make me miserable... if Ryan ain't happy, ain't nobody happy, you know!). But she didn't. She took every finish during the season, from 1st to 6th place, completely in stride and she worked so hard to improve her times, finishing up at the last 'Champs Meet' with 2 more 1st place finishes and several 'personal best' ribbons. Tonight she was upset at her performance initially but she got over it quickly and brightened up right away. Again, big for Ryan. Have I mentioned how proud I am of her? I am. So proud.
Here's a picture of my little fish tonight...
16 comments:
Yay!
And where in the world did she pick up the habit of beating herself up like crazy?!
Geez! Nobody does that!
And I love the picture. She looks cute.
Go, Ryan, GO! She's sooooo cute. Love the photo!
She's a cute little fish and such a good girl,she certainly tries hard, no quitting there... no wonder you're so proud of her. ♡
It's so obvious how proud you are of her. And I would be too. Sounds like a great kiddo. :)
I'm with Ryan on the breast stroke...I never liked it either.
I love to watch someone swimming when they know what they're doing- perfectly executed strokes are beautiful to watch regardless of how fast they are done.
Kudos to Ryan!
Great attitude from the young lady. After all, aren't we trying to beat ourselves in most everything we do?
Haha, I think I need your little fishy to give me swim lessons! :-P
Attitude is everything, sounds like Ryan has the mental game under control. And with all those first place finishes, it seems like she's on her way to being the next . . . um . . . Michael Phelps? No, bad idea, let's say Janet Evans.
Ryan sounds awesome! :) She is going to do great things :)
I read the 'May You' poem on the side of your blog, because I like these poems/prayers, call them what you will. And I would like to wish you that as a blessing. Please read it again as it comes from auntie with lots of love for a 'braveheart'
ok, so that contemporary themes one was me. I was signed into my school account. oops. Just wanted you to know! ;-)
She looks absolutely hydrodynamic in that photo!
What a wonderful fish she is! My kids only learned swimming half way due to many reason. Maybe I'll start them back when the time is right!
Yay for your little fish! I'm amazed that she can do this at all .. I always found swimming so difficult! And I'm with you, I find the breaststroke easier! The butterfly is hard!!!! I'm glad to hear she is learning to be a bit gentler on herself!
She is a wonder!
Diane, do you know our local ditty, 'When the boat comes in...'
Dance ti' thy daddy, sing ti' thy mammy,
Dance ti' thy daddy, ti' thy mammy sing;
Thou shall hev a fishy on a little dishy,
Thou shall hev a fishy when the boat comes in...
That lovely picture just made me think of it - We do sing it to our children, like a little nursery rhyme...
Having been in competitive swimming myself before, I know she's doing well from that photo! Well done.
Most people who do well in freestyle, backstroke and butterfly struggle with the breaststroke. I was one such =)
Brings back memories. Thanks for sharing.
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