Parenting Guru: How my kids are bringing new meaning to a long-lost love

Swimming. Over the years the word has had a lot of different meanings to me.

When I was very young, the baby pool was home for the summer. It meant friends, fun and snack bar goodies. By the time I was eight, it meant early mornings, blue ribbons and pool records. Soon came the Olympic dreams (far fetched as they were) and a confidence that I didn't have in other parts of my life.

At thirteen swimming became an escape, a way to transfer schools to avoid the mean girl who was plaguing me. By fourteen, my Olympic dreams were long gone, but the dreamy boys were front and center-in Speedos. For years I lifeguarded, taught swim lessons to adorable little kids and I grew up in the water. But after an injury or two (including a broken heart), my love of the sport faded.

Even so, every time I get in the water, a flood of memories and emotions comes rushing back. I feel peace, strength, grace-and I feel at home.

You might assume that because of my past, I'd have little water babies of my own. But it turns out I don't. My oldest son has been in and out of lessons through the years, but he's never loved it. Both of my boys are sensitive to the water because they've had more ear infections than I can count and a few sets of ear tubes between them. I finally stopped taking them swimming because it was a huge battle just to get their ears wet.

In a way, it's been a bit of a relief. My kids are developing their own talents and passions. They don't have the burden of following in my extremely competitive footsteps. In a way, it's felt like a bit of a loss. Like maybe I wouldn't share this special bond and love with them.

So I decided to try again this summer. It turns out a new swim school and a year of maturity have been magic. Though they're still so very young and have a long, long way to go, my boys couldn't be doing better. Or, more importantly, enjoying it more.

And yesterday, as I watched my son swim beautifully across the pool, it was like something just clicked. In him-and in me. And suddenly the word "swimming" has all kinds of potential again.

Are there activities or hobbies you have that you hope your kids will adopt?


Amy is a Shine Parenting Guru. She also writes about her adventures parenting two boys and a baby girl on her slice-of-life blog, Using Our Words.