T loses control of his emotions on a regular basis, but today, it was for the best and proudest reasons.
The outdoor city pool opened this weekend and it's a summer tradition for us to spend time there.
It's a small plain pool but it is special place for us, because it saved our pandemic summer in 2020, when there was not much to do. We were there 4-5 days a week.
Four summers later, while we don't go as often, we check it out every weekend.
T started swim lessons two years ago and it is an activity that he enjoys and that he can focus on.
Last September, T attempted the deep end test for the first time and he failed. It wasn't even close.
I told him to not be discouraged. It means he needs to practice more, keep at it and try again.
T at the pool in the pandemic summer of 2020.
Nine months later, it was his shot at redemption.
T said he wanted to practice first and he swam two laps effortlessly.
I told him he did great. But he wanted to practice one more time - and did it again.
"Ok, I'm ready," he said. "Can you tell the lifeguard?"
I told him that it was his test, so he had to call for the lifeguard. And so he did.
A group of older kids gathered in the middle of the pool and I was worried T would get intimidated.
But he began his test.
Lap 1 done without a sweat.
As he swam back, an older kid moved, unintentionally, in his way and T bumped into him.
I worried it would throw him off. But he kept on swimming and made it to back to the lifeguard.
"Did I pass?" He asked.
"You sure did," the lifeguard replied.
T and I both screamed so loudly and jumped up and down then gave each other a big hug.
As the lifeguard put a sticker on T's wristband, to indicate he passed, I apologized, "Sorry, I'm just an over proud parent." 😂
"It's all good," the lifeguard said with a smirk.
How quickly these simmers and time fly by.
"Are you ready?" I asked T.
I could see the excitement in his eyes as we swam towards the blue rope.
After all these years, he could finally venture to the other side.
As we entered the deep end, Bee Gees' "Staying Alive" came on the stereo. How appropriate. 😂
There were less people in the deep end and I watched with absolute glee in my heart as T had such a blast exploring this new part of the pool and swam to the deepest part, which must've seemed massive to a small kid.
It's tradition to take T to McDonald's after our swim and to celebrate his accomplishment, I also picked up dinner there for the hubby and I.
As we drove home, T asked, "Are you proud of me?"
I smiled at him from the rear view mirror and said, "I am so so proud."
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