This will be the first Summer Olympics my sons remember.

Every single night this week we’ve piled onto the couch and watched Michael Phelps, Ryan Lochte, Natalie Coughlin, Missy Franklin, etc dive into the pool and make history in the swimming pool.

It’s been incredible to see my sons eyes light up after every race, even the female ones!

They all know swimming.

This is William’s 3rd year on a swim team.  This is Alexander’s first year.  And Ben and Henry have been taking lessons since they were 6 months old.  They all know it, but now they get more of it.

They’ve seen the races.

They’ve seen the cheers and the splashing of water when something awesome happens.

They’ve seen the excitement of Phelps and Lochte going head to head.

They’ve been listening to the hype.

It’s been awesome because it’s inspiring them!

This weekend was William’s first ever Long Course meet.  We’re talking a 50 meter pool… much longer than he used to.

I could tell when we entered Springfield College’s pool yesterday that William was nervous. He looked at it and said to me, “This is the Olympic pool.”

Yes, same length.

Same kind of pool.

I didn’t want William to be freaked out for his first meet, so I tried the best that I could to make him feel better with the “Don’t worry, you’re going to be awesome!” and the “Just move those arms and kick those feet as fast as you can!” All with a smile (and fear in my belly for him!).

I don’t know if I was breaking through his nerves, I was trying hard.

But then it was something his brother Alex said to him that seemed to have the most impact and loosen William up.

“Wow William! I bet Ryan Lochte and Michael Phelps swam here when they were kids.”

A smile on William’s face emerged, I could almost see the wheels in his head spinning. To be like these great swimmers… hmmm…

And with that, something shifted in William. He was more confident. He was less nervous. He was ready. And he was inspired.

Now… Ryan Lochte and Michael Phelps have probably never swam in the Springfield College pool, but… you know what, William doesn’t need to know that. 😉