I took a road trip today with the girls. My oldest had a Junior Miss function, and I took the other girls along for the ride. After she rode in the Dearborn Memorial Day parade, my daughter was invited to a pool party.

Of course, the little girls and I went along for the ride. The day started with a search for swim diapers. We have three cloth ones somewhere, but I couldn’t put my hands on them. So when we stopped for breakfast, I went to the grocery store to buy some Huggies Little Swimmers . There were none in the store. I checked several times before giving up, then mentioned it to the cashier.

I tried to give up on the idea of the baby swimming. We’d probably get to the party around naptime, so, there you go. But it was nagging me. The parade was a long two hours in the hot sun. I went in another grocery store on the way to the pool party. I was all prepared to write a post about how you can’t even find swim diapers in black towns, when. . . I found some swim diapers in a black town. Phew! But I didn’t have an article for imswimming yet.

I knew that as soon as the little girls got their suits on, the baby was going to want to wear hers. I hadn’t packed a suit for my daughter, so I had decided not to swim, and let her wear mine. The baby was so excited to put on her suit, and she happily accepted the little butterfly shaped swim cube and inflated water wings.

I’ve taken the baby swimming before, and I knew she was a water baby. She is practically fearless, and likes being held in the pool and playing in the water. But today was different. It was all I could do to hold her still on the pool steps while waiting for her sister the lifeguard to change into her suit. Once my oldest daughter stepped in the pool, it was on! The baby leaned forward, trying to float on her stomach while keeping her head out of the water. She got a little water in her mouth until she got the hang of it. Her big sister told her to kick. That took a minute for her to get the hang of, but pretty soon, she was kicking. She didn’t want to be held. She wanted to float on her own.

Pretty soon, the baby was treading water and moving herself around in the pool. Her sister, the swim teacher/lifeguard, was surprised at the easy time she had teaching the baby. The real test was when she got water up her nose. Of course, the 2 year old didn’t like that. She wrinkled up her face, and I thought that might be the end of her swim session. But she didn’t cry, and pretty soon was ready to get back to swimming.

I haven’t had such a bold young swimmer since my now 15 year old boy. He was the fearless child who tootled around the deep end in an innertube at 4 months, and was challenging his swim teacher to races at 3 years.

The bold water baby is a completely different challenge from the fearful 5 year old (her next older sibling). Ironically, they both require the same solution—swim lessons. I think I’ll inquire about those for both this summer.

I made it back to the pool this last week after a three week break. I averaged about 4 minutes per 100 yards, and swam for 30 minutes. To complete the math problem, that would mean I swam 700 yards during my half hour. My 100 IM was a notable exception to my average. I swam that at 2:45.22, which is a decent time for me.

I think my days of unmonitored swimming are coming to an end. I plan to sign up for Masters Swimming as soon as possible, putting myself under a swim coach for the first time ever. Who knows? Maybe nothing will change. But maybe everything will change. Maybe that will get me closer to my goal of entering a triathlon, and my secret dreams of competing. But first, I want to swim for weight loss and fitness.

This should be an interesting journey.

Did I hear him say the fastest time in history–Cullen Jones 19.1? You never know the meet where a record happens. Cullen tweeted, “What a weekend Went to Masters Nationals and found a new appreciation for the love of swimming. Went a 19.1 finally got my stroke together”

A man on the video said, USMS recognizes the spirit of making ourselves better. I am finally ready to join Masters Swimming. Let the life changing commence.

Saturday was relay day. It looks like the kind of swim meet to encourage you throughout the year. It is social, it is fun, it is encouraging. More video highlights to come. What a wonderful reminder that swimming is a lifelong sport! There were 89 year olds swimming the 100 free in the same meet that featured current and former Olympians. What other sport do you see that?

Look what’s going on in Atlanta right now. I can’t imagine a more inclusive swim meet. I’ll post updates when I get them. Check it out if you’re in the Atlanta area.

Now, here’s something you don’t see everyday. May you approach your swim workout with that face of determination. That ferocity. Go get ‘em, tiger!