One of my favorite memories growing up was swimming at our neighborhood pool. We lived in a little neighborhood called Liv-Moor and right around the corner from our cul-de-sac was our pool. So, when I was five or so, I would ride my bike to the pool in the morning for swim-team and stay for swimming lessons. Then I would ride home for lunch, have a toasted cheddar cheese sandwich and tomato soup (my favorite) and then ride back to hang out at the pool in the afternoon. It was such a sweet memory for me. I loved everything about that pool and swimming. I loved wearing my kelly green one piece swimsuit with a yellow trim, which was our swim team uniform. I loved diving off the blocks and practicing freestyle, my favorite stroke. I loved buying 5 cent pretzel rods from the concession stand and calling my mom on the payphone for 10 cents. I remember playing basketball barefoot on the court right in front of the pool, as you walked in. They had a tetherball too that I would switch to when I got tired of basketball. All my friends went to that pool. They were on the swim team too, and we would all play and swim together all day long.
My kids now go to swim team at the last of those neighborhood pools. My pool has long been closed, but Eastmoor is still alive and kicking. I feel like my kids need an activity in the morning during summer and with swim team being such a sweet memory, it’s the perfect thing for the kids to do during June and July. I also feel like swimming is an important life skill for kids to learn. I never have to worry when we’re at the ocean or lake. I’m grateful my mom signed me up for swimming too, when I was so young.
Isaac was lucky enough to learn how to swim in pre-school, so when I signed him up for swim team in the first grade, it wasn’t a big deal. Joey and Josie had a few lessons, but I honestly feel like swim team is the way to go to make kids strong swimmers. Their coach, Tony Phillips, is so great. He’s the reason that pool stays open. Fun fact: I was on swim team with him for two years back in high school. Tony has done a great job with that team over the years and I feel lucky that my kids are able to be on his team. So, every morning I drive the kids over to the pool, they swim for an hour, soak up the sun and come home for lunch. They also eat cheese sandwiches, but aren’t fans of soup, so they have fruit and chips instead. It’s a great activity for the summer months.
