Swim Camp Limp

Summer was filled with camps and looking back, maybe too many of them were athletic or physical camps. It was something that the kids are interested in and something we knew would tire the kids out. What happened on one of the last weeks of a swim camp made me rethink the approach to stacking too many of these activities together.

The week started out innocently enough. My 7 year old daughter E and 6 year old son C went swimming at the swim camp. E also had a pre-competition swim practice that she goes to twice a week. I didn’t think it would be a big deal, but apparently it ended up being a big deal. As the week wore on and the swimming activities piled up, her foot started to hurt. She was walking funny, but she didn’t want to miss swim camp.

We reluctantly let her continue going to swim camp and she said she would manage her foot. It may have been too much for her feet since they were diving, walking on tippy toes in the water, and all kinds of things that really stressed her foot out. We had to have her take it easy at home and the week ended up being a rough one to manage. I hate seeing my kids injured and they are such tough kids to keep going (probably because they don’t want to miss out on the fun!).

I think the part of parenthood that will always stress me out is periods like this. I want to control the things I cannot control (my kids!) and have them do the things I want them to do (rest!). I remember my Mom saying she would always worry about me and I never quite understood that until I had my own kids. Now that hits home and I know exactly where that sentiment is coming from. Luckily we got through the week and E’s foot ended up being fine. C of course was bouncing off the wall, but he had his own challenges with foot issues later on after that camp. It really never stops sometimes and I guess that’s what happens with active kids!