Deck Pass: A Day in the Life Sunday

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The kid has discovered her passion - swimming.

She has competed in 2 swim meets since joining a swim club in December. After spending about 10 hours of sitting knee-to-back on hard metal bleachers, observing usually quiet moms screaming at the tops of their lungs <it's always the quiet ones> and being enveloped in air too warm for comfort I have one thing to say:

She absolutely has to continue.

She has to continue not because my pride overflows each time I see her quell her fears, step on the starting block and channel her years of swimming in the river into a smooth, solid stroke to compete with a handshake and a smile.

She has to continue not because it is a life long sport, because this is where friendships are made, or because she is growing stronger, sleeker and faster with each practice.

She has to continue because my new found identity as a swim mom is firmly attached to it.

Hanging with the other parents, cheering the kids on down the lanes <faster, faster, breathe, smooth turn, way to go!> and comparing individual times against standards at the final stretch of each race, I am getting my swim on.

For this group of parents, it's about each kid doing their best and getting better. No intimidating jeers only roof-raising cheers and encouragement.

And, swim moms have apps, too. Want to maintain your kid's races and times at your fingertips for all eternity? Turns out there's a USA Swimming Deck Pass app for that.

My daughter is much stronger across the board than I ever was at her age. How lucky am I to get to enjoy each and every day with this beautiful little girl I am blessed to have as my daughter.

All that aside, in my 2-meet swim mom opinion, she could turn those arms over just a little faster.

Photo credit iStockphoto