I have wanted to be a lifeguard for a long time. That is just one of a long list of accomplishments I’d like to check off.

I had a chance back in 1986, when I was a camp counselor. But I didn’t think I had the swim skills to make it. We’d have to get up early and do all our swimming in the lake, and I was intimidated. So, I was certified with basic water safety skills instead.

In the back of my mind, my swim training now has been in part ot get me ready to do lifeguard certification. I was sure the yardage required was massive.

Now my daughter has started lifeguard training, and I found out you must swim 300 yards. I could do that even after a long time out of the pool like I’m experiencing now. She said you had to swim 100 free, 100 breast, and 100 either breast or free.

And there were people in the class who didn’t know what the breast stroke was, fat people, smokers, out of shape people, you name it. I couldn’t believe it! And I have been holding out for perfection all these years!

Then my daughter told me about the other component. The diving to the bottom to get a 10 pound weight that you had to swim back to the shallow end against a timer. And all the drowning scenarios where you get to be either a victim or a hero.

I remember when my daughter had to train with bungee cords and do a kind of tug-a-war with another swimmer. The two girls were attached by an elastic cord and had to swim in opposite directions. The girl closer to her end of the pool won. My daughter surprised everyone by her strength. She had struggled with the volume of swimming, but was very strong.

So I expected her to have no problem with her lifeguard training. But it was hard for her to rescue heavy people. She dreads having to swim holding the 10 pound weight out of the water in front of herself.

And I am brimming with pride over a kid who was once terrified of the water now ultimately conquering it. And inspiring her old mommy to do just the same thing.