Friday, June 22, 2007
Red Badge of Courage: Part 3
From June 19:
Since the last busted swim meet, Max has taken a lesson. Coach Jose's guidance was simple: (1) On the backstroke, use your arms and keep them straight. (2) During freestyle, breath to the side, put your head back in the water, and keep kicking. I don't know whether Max improved, but I felt better with something concrete to work on.
At today's meet, Max focused on Coach Jose's advice: arms straight and moving. Except they were moving in slow motion. Emphasis on SLOW. He looked like he might have been doing water ballet out there--an adagio. And when eventually he finished, his maroon ribbon was waiting.
Hoping for better on freestyle, I situated myself at the end of Max's lane, and he waved at me from the on-deck chair. I waved back. A few seconds later, he hurled himself into the water and began to swim. About four strokes. Then his head popped out of the water like an otter and he grabbed the lane rope. The other swimmers were at the half-way point. Max had gone half that distance.
I stood up and yelled, "PUT YOUR FACE BACK IN THE WATER, AND KEEP KICKING!!" Just like Coach Jose had instructed.
Max broke into an enormous grin and raised his thumb high in the air. As if to say, "I'm okay, mom! I'm having fun! And I hear you!" I think I could see his eyes twinkling all the way through his goggles.
And he proceeded.
In fits and starts.
Breathing to the side.
Face back in the water.
Still kicking.
Long after everyone else had finished.
He touched the wall.
The crowd in the bleachers erupted into cheers.
His coach leaned over, offered Max a hand, and hoisted him out of the pool.
"Good swimmin', buddy."
He handed Max a blue ribbon.
Since the last busted swim meet, Max has taken a lesson. Coach Jose's guidance was simple: (1) On the backstroke, use your arms and keep them straight. (2) During freestyle, breath to the side, put your head back in the water, and keep kicking. I don't know whether Max improved, but I felt better with something concrete to work on.
At today's meet, Max focused on Coach Jose's advice: arms straight and moving. Except they were moving in slow motion. Emphasis on SLOW. He looked like he might have been doing water ballet out there--an adagio. And when eventually he finished, his maroon ribbon was waiting.
Hoping for better on freestyle, I situated myself at the end of Max's lane, and he waved at me from the on-deck chair. I waved back. A few seconds later, he hurled himself into the water and began to swim. About four strokes. Then his head popped out of the water like an otter and he grabbed the lane rope. The other swimmers were at the half-way point. Max had gone half that distance.
I stood up and yelled, "PUT YOUR FACE BACK IN THE WATER, AND KEEP KICKING!!" Just like Coach Jose had instructed.
Max broke into an enormous grin and raised his thumb high in the air. As if to say, "I'm okay, mom! I'm having fun! And I hear you!" I think I could see his eyes twinkling all the way through his goggles.
And he proceeded.
In fits and starts.
Breathing to the side.
Face back in the water.
Still kicking.
Long after everyone else had finished.
He touched the wall.
The crowd in the bleachers erupted into cheers.
His coach leaned over, offered Max a hand, and hoisted him out of the pool.
"Good swimmin', buddy."
He handed Max a blue ribbon.
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