I spent my evening at the pool tonight, only I was not able to go swimming. I was working. I volunteered to help run the clerk of course at this year’s All-City Swim meet held at Shorewood Swimming pool for the next three days. Last year about two dozen parents started the planning and now another several hundred will volunteer to run this meet that is among the largest in the nation. It’s an amazing event that is a blast for the kids but a ton of work for parents.
I volunteered to work clerk of course 9 years ago when Shorewood hosted the event last--Erika was only 9. 9 years later, Jessi is swimming and I have volunteered to work clerk of course again.
Of my three daughters only Jessi still actively competes, but all three have participated in All-City. It’s a great community event. It isn’t just about winning, it is about participating. While everyone gets a ribbon for swimming, some will get more ribbons than others. Monika swam at Seminole in 2004 and won a 3rd place ribbon for her relay out of more than 30 teams. That ribbon hung in her room for several years. This year Jessi has been working hard all summer to do well at All-City. She is especially motivated because her team is hosting.
As I walked around the pool tonight watching so many parents preparing, I wondered. Why would so many moms and dads give up so much time do this? Not a one of us is getting paid; most are taking off work or donating funds for the event. What is it that makes parents work so hard for such an ephemeral event? Perhaps the motivation is a little different for each parent, but my guess is that there is a similar passion that brings us together and I don’t think it’s just a love for the sport. I know I am not working the clerk of course at All-City for three days because I love swimming.
Parents with children involved in sports understand that most big sporting events cannot happen without parent’s involvement. Meets, games, and tournaments all need parents helping out. I think the most fun part in volunteering for any sporting event, but especially a big event like All-City, is getting to know the other parents. I find we all have at least one thing in common.
As I look around at the volunteers, I see a lot of familiar faces. Most are members of the same pool I belong to but I don’t really know all that well. My guess is that they are in this for the same reason I am in it. We are all doing all this work because we love our kids and want to support their involvement in sports. I haven’t asked any of my fellow volunteers why they are spending so much time doing so much work, so I might be wrong, but I can’t think of any better reason!
(written for the WSJ Mom Blog)
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