Today is one of those days where I think that it actually might be easier to be a Pioneer traipsing across the plains toward the Valley-o than trying to get my kids to follow even the simplest of instructions without my becoming an absolute ogre in the process.
I can't help but think about a long-ago Mother's Day sacrament meeting program in my home ward where some well-meaning Primary president passed a microphone to a group of kids up in front of the congregation and asked them to tell their moms something about what makes them a good mom. My sister Joce, doing her best with such spontaneous instruction, gives out her best parenting advice: "Yell the first time, instead of the last." Oh, dear Joce, the ward members may have laughed at that comment (and the way I remember it, Mom was none too happy about the whole thing), but I'm currently thinking that it's the most sage parenting philosophy that I've ever heard.....
I can't help but think about a long-ago Mother's Day sacrament meeting program in my home ward where some well-meaning Primary president passed a microphone to a group of kids up in front of the congregation and asked them to tell their moms something about what makes them a good mom. My sister Joce, doing her best with such spontaneous instruction, gives out her best parenting advice: "Yell the first time, instead of the last." Oh, dear Joce, the ward members may have laughed at that comment (and the way I remember it, Mom was none too happy about the whole thing), but I'm currently thinking that it's the most sage parenting philosophy that I've ever heard.....
......because I've spent the whole day feeling like I've said little more than: no, stop, don't, come here right now, would you rather go to your bed today, leave your sister/brother alone, listen to what I'm telling you, don't whine, does there need to be a consequence, when I say to do something I mean right now, this is about the tenth time I've told you, why aren't you dressed yet, you really need to figure out when it's not appropriate to be silly, I don't care, why would you treat him/her like that, I can't listen to you when you're crying, I really don't want to get upset at you, please listen to what I'm saying, that's one..that's two...how many times do I have to say NO!
At least if I were a pioneer and my kids kept totally disregarding whatever instructions I had given them about the chips-for-fuel gathering, I could just go on and leave them behind because they would probably find some other wagon to join where there was a much nicer mother who liked to sing as she walked and walked and walked. And then maybe she'd actually know how to positively motivate them to do something, if not the first, but at least the second time she asks. Lucky them.
I'll admit that three summers ago when I signed up Max, and he could barely complete the required one-length of the pool, I was doing it only because it was the best deal around--can't beat 6 weeks of everyday swim instruction for one insanely low price. And because I don't swim anything more complicated than a leisurely side stroke, it was like I was a little shocked when he and all of these other little kids actually learned to swim, and swim some pretty technical strokes too.
However, far-and-away, the best thing about the swim team is that it has helped us make our pool club into a real community of friends. Maybe it's that I'm socially needy by nature, but I love that it's like I'm on a real-life episode of Cheers where everybody knows my name. I love that the teenage coaches and lifeguards know my kids' names and give them high-fives when they walk by or tease them about whatever silly thing they might be doing. I love "making the rounds" as I follow Isabel cruising the edge of the pool during practice and getting a chance to talk with all the other parents as we pass by. I love that it's like Olivia has a half-dozen 8-10 yr old very doting older sisters (and she laps it all up, believe me). I love how plenty of people tell Isabel happy birthday in July because they all remember when she was born and that when I was very, very pregnant that the parking attendant during the meets use to save me a front-row spot even when the lot was already full (talk about DDParking!). And I love that the swim meets are like one big family reunion where everyone is cheering for eachother's children, where the kids pass the time inbetween their events playing games with eachother, and where the food, conversation, and baby-watching becomes communal. 
