I have said before that with my children, I'm glad I cast a wide net of activities at them--that they have dabbled in everything from music to ceramics to sports--and that the number one thing I I did for them was swim lessons, as swim led to other things like junior guards and water polo. Diego thrived more with non-ball sports, like snowboarding, sailing, skateboarding, jujitsu. But Charlie. Charlie is literally a baller, especially when it comes to water polo. Four years in, now a senior, he is captain this year to a very young team--only he and his friend Kody are seniors. Tonight was senior night, an opportunity to honor them.
Having your kid so dedicated to a sport means that you also are dedicated. I've been all-in, which has meant trips to Clovis, Roseville, Larkspur. But I I've been all-in because Charlie is. He's a young senior and won't turn 18 until after he's graduated. He did not start driving until his junior year, and so for morning practice, he got up early and rode his bike in the dark to school to practice before class, went to school all day, practiced after school, and then biked home in the evening. When he started driving to school, I coudn't blame him.
He's an exhausted puppy every day. He manages to carve out time for this AP classes and college applications. He eats heartily and sleeps good. He is a child that thrives with structure, and given the right level of challenge and guidance in the way of teachers, mentors, and coaches, has thrived.
I didn't grow up watching sports or with any kind of sports loyalty or fandom. I don't really care for watching sports in person and certainly not on TV. But watching the boys play their sports, especially water polo, has been one of the most thrilling things in my life. I'm so grateful to Charlie's coaches for their coaching, to team parents for their dedication, and to Charlie for his commitment to the game and his teammates. What a ride. It's made him tough and fit and compassionate and disciplined. It's taught him resilience and leadership.
In high school, I was on the swim team and ran cross country. I biked everywhere and thought I might be a triathlete some day. I was a slow, steady runner, but I was one of the fastest girls on our swim team and often won my distance events--the 500 and 200 freestyle and the IM--the individual medley--even though my butterfly was awful.
Doing sports was the one thing in my life that fed that desire for discipline and accomplishment, really the one thing that was pure in my life. We lived a few blocks from the high school in a 2-bedroom apartment--my brother had his own room and I shared a room and bed with my mom. But there was a junior olympic size pool there, 25 meters, and so every night before bed I swam 100 laps.
But I'd had a pretty tough upbringing and at about six in the morning, my swim coach caught me smoking a cigarette before practice. He kicked me off the team. And my life got worse. My kids know this story; I've been open with them about what my life was like.
I'm just so damned grateful that my kids have been able to do things that challenge and fulfill them physically, that they've had great coaches and mentors who have helped them to transition from being children to young men and to help them build their confidence and physical capabilities. Now I truly appreciate seeing how sports are such a great thing, that being part of a team can teach you so much about yourself and make you feel connected. It's such a positive thing for young people, for the endorphins and the camaraderie, for confidence, and leadership, fitness, for dealing with setbacks and the celebration of a great win. And for a good night's sleep.
Charlie, you and Derek joked that I made a shrine to you on our dining table, but you know what? You deserve it.
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