Full-Circle Swimming

During the winter that Audrey was 5 years old, she took swimming lessons at the Barrington YMCA.  She was a tiny little girl, but in the water her arms were strong and legs could kick up some pretty good splash.  I thought she looked rather good… but then again, I’m her Mommy.

A couple of weeks into the lessons, Audrey’s swimming instructor, a very personable young high school guy who swam for the local high school, said to Barry and me, “You know, Audrey has a great little stroke for her age.  You should keep her in swimming.”

Ah, ha!  It wasn’t just a “Mommy” thing.

Audrey turned 6 in May, and one thing she wanted to do was swim for our summer swim club’s swim team.  Well, she really didn’t want to swim as much as she wanted to wear one of the adorable swim team suits.  Even back then, it was all about fashion.

On the first day of swim practice, Audrey asked if I could please stay on deck and watch her.  She was excited.  And nervous.  And all the emotions of the first day of something when you’re 6 years old.  My mother-in-law, Flo, happened to be there on that first day, too.  We watched Audrey swim her slow little methodical strokes… and my heart melted and my throat tightened.  Maybe my eyes even filled with tears of joy for this new adventure that my child was on.

Well, Audrey continued to swim.  Year after year.  Faster and faster.  On that same summer swim team and on a winter swim team and for her high school swim team.  She would go on to break the all-time Rhode Island Breaststroke record and hold it for 14 years… until it was shattered by Rhode Island Olympic-trial swimmer Laura Sogar.

So you can imagine my heart this past Monday morning as Audrey’s 5-year old son, William, jumped into the same pool on the same summer swim team.  He had asked Audrey to please stay on deck to watch him.  The late June sun was trying to warm the cool blue water as William swam his slow little methodical strokes.  Audrey watched William… and she would tell me later that her heart melted and her throat tightened.

And maybe her eyes even filled with tears of joy for this new adventure that her child is on.

I know mine did. And I felt the fullness of that moment… that full-circle moment that blends everything from generation to generation.  And I felt such joy that my own daughter and I now share that special magic.

It truly is magical.

About Audrey

Audrey McClelland has been a digital influencer since 2005. She’s a mom of 5 and shares tips on her three favorite things: parenting, fashion and beauty. She’s also a Contemporary Romance Author.

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7 Comments

  1. 7.4.10
    Lucy said:

    Love the circle of swimming, it keeps us all connected with the past. Hope to see you on a pool deck some day.

  2. 7.9.10

    What a beautiful post. Love it. As always you have a way with words.

    Audrey might have told you that I was a swimmer too…. Kenzie learning to swim has been so exciting for me as it brings back all of my earliest memories. She’s even taking her lessons at the same place where I did all my indoor swimming so I feel like it is totally full circle. Maybe next year she’ll get to do a race too!

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