Over the last month, I had more encounters with splashing in the water watching children than with actual swimming.

My old lady swim cap keeps my hair dry while children splash. It doesn’t hold up as well when I’m actually swimming.

I thought a lot about how I looked, like a stereotype. Can’t get my hair wet, can’t swim, blah, blah. It was embarrassing.

But, yesterday, when I took my four youngest children to the beach for a birthday party, and spent my time in the lake with the two non-swimmers, I rethought this idea. After the guilt of having two non-swimmers subsided, I thought about what the other parents at the party did.

They stood outside the water watching. If anything, they sent other children in with their non-swimmers.

So, the thought occurred to me that even when I’m not swimming, I still behave like a swimmer in the water.

Last month, I took one of my swimming daughters to the pool, and I did a little doggy paddling, some water aerobics type stuff, walking, etc. It was killing me not to be swimming, but I needed to look pulled together, and didn’t trust myself to do my own hair.

My excuse yesterday? Just got my hair done.

Balancing beauty and swimming takes self restraint.

And last week? I went swimming–early on the day of my hair appointment. I swam 700 yards: 200 free, 200 breast, and 300 back. I’m relieved to increase that freestyle yardage. My left shoulder was randomly hurting, so I couldn’t swim the half mile I’d hoped to do.

Must have something to do with holding a certain 50 pound 4 year old, in the water, maybe?

cross posted at www.imswimming.net