EMMA

Well life with a almost 10 year old is pretty crazy as of late. The emotions and moods are up and down several times a day. She thinks I am the greatest mom and the worst mom all in an hour time span. But I just have to remember it is normal. In the middle of the battle that doesn't seem to help,but later on it is nice to know I am not the only one going through it.

But of all the many things I want Emma to know the most important is that I love her and am always proud of her! Even though we are in the heat of an argument, it kills me to think that there is even a second that she questions that. I remember saying to my mom, you just don't love me anymore! I didn't mean it, but now that I am on the other side of that statement I know that it hurts.

So today I wanted to blog about how proud I am of Emma and her swimming. She has become an AMAZING swimmer. She started out 4 summers ago swimming in a summer league and did very well at the meets. So she wanted to look into swimming year round. So last Sept. she started swimming for MSA. She swims 4 nights a week and there are meets every month. She loves it and does a great job.

I remember her first meet she came in 52nd in her division out of about 60 9-10 year old girls. I realized then that this was a totally different league then summer swim team! But she kept at it and has worked really hard all year! She crept up that ladder and now she is placing at these meets and I am just amazed! To see the love for this sport in her eyes and how proud she is when she does well and how hard she is on herself when she doesn't do so well. But what I love about her is how she keeps going and keeps pushing! She is only 9 years old and her determination is that of someone so much older and wiser. I don't have to or would I make her go to practice. She can't wait to go and is bummed when something else comes up that causes her not to get to practice one night.

I hope she keeps her love of swimming because I think it will take her far. Not only can she get awards and medals and scholarships from swimming, but it teaches her so much too. It gives her a sense of pride, accomplishment, a work ethic and a drive like no other! So when I think of her at these swim meets it reminds me of the bigger picture which is how she daily surprises me, makes me laugh, takes my breath away and drives me crazy all at once and I wouldn't have it any other way!

These pictures are the ribbons she won at her last swim meet 2 weeks ago.

The 1st place is for 50 yd. butterfly stroke

2nd place is for 100 yd. freestyle relay

8th place is for 50 yd. breast stroke