It sure ain't three weeks ago, is it?

Ah, how I long for three weeks ago. Why?

Allow me to paint a picture for you.

It’s 5:00 in the morning. I tiptoe into the children’s rooms, and gently nudge them awake. Excitement is in the air as they literally JUMP out of bed, and throw on their swimsuits in anticipation of their VERY FIRST SWIM MEET!!

Breakfast is eaten, bags (which have all been packed the night before) are loaded up, and we are on our way, with all three kids chattering excitedly in the back of the van. Among the first to arrive, the kids get settled into the tents for their individual age groups. And outside of watching their events, we don’t really see them much over the course of the day.

They are too busy with their friends. Too excited to even think about wandering over to the tent we’ve set up to hang out with OUR friends, and to try to escape the blazing sun. Too nervous to eat, much less ask for money for snacks from the concessions stand.

And when we get home from the meet? After sitting in the sun for hours, and swimming 5 events each? Well, the very same kids trudge, slack-jawed, back into the house, and collapse onto their beds, barely able to remember their own names. And the whole family naps, blissfully, for a couple of hours in the air conditioning.

Fast forward to swim meet #3.

I tiptoe unto their rooms, and gently nudge them awake.

Nudge…Nudge…Poke…

Lights on…

“Time to get up, guys!”

(silence)



“NOW!! C’mon! We’re already running late!”

So, it’s a little harder to get them up. No biggie, right? And those bags that were so meticulously packed? Well, this time, I’m just hoping that everyone has a clean towel, swim goggles that aren’t busted, and that Libby’s swim cap has made its way back into her bag after she used it to haul pool water for the ‘lake’ she and her friend, Hannah, built while they waited for practice to start on Friday.

And during yesterday’s meet, it seemed like every time I looked up, there was a kid in our tent, asking for a snack. Or more likely, asking for a dollar to go BUY a snack. Because everyone knows that the snack bar's snacks are far superior to anything that Mom brought. Even if the ‘Mom in question’ baked homemade chocolate chip banana bread and made mini bagel sandwiches prior to the swim meet. I mean, I’m just sayin’.

Who can blame you if you’d rather have four bags of Skittles?! Because, um… obviously.

Don’t even get me started, though, about the afternoon. When we got home from the swim meet? Well, let’s just say that I think the kids have quickly adjusted to the physical demands that would leave any adult stumbling and babbling incoherently from exhaustion.

Who am I kidding? Just being out there, sitting in the shaded tent, leaves me stumbling and babbling incoherently from exhaustion. So, this time around, the only people who were slack-jawed and in desperate need of an afternoon nap? Me and Phil.

The children had the energy of ten men, and were wired beyond all reason, completely unable to settle down for an afternoon rest. I blame the Skittles.



So, with the progression of the swim season, I foresee even fewer naps on my horizon. And even more money for pickles and snow-cones at the concessions stand. Not to mention, a few morning grouches (me, included).

Dear ‘three weeks ago’… I miss you already. ;)