Well, once again, it's time for my semi-annual blog update. Haha. I have about a million things to talk about here, but I'll focus just on one or two. For the past 5 years I have been the Aquatics Director at Ivory Ridge Swim & Tennis Club. Last night we closed for the season. It's always a little bittersweet to me, mostly because I am such a swimmer at heart that it's hard for me to let go of the sunshine, the smell of the chlorine, the noise of splashes and people happy from play. Something about a swimming pool has always filled me with a deep joy. Maybe I was part fish in another life...who knows?! Although my love for the pool and aquatics brings me so much satisfaction, the summer months ALWAYS fill me with extra anxiety. For someone who struggles with clinical anxiety anyway, the added pressure of lessons, lifeguards, training, rescues, documentation, and money just about does me in every year. From about 9 am to 9 pm everyday except Sunday I feel this pressure. Pressure to make sure that everything is running according to plan...which most of the time it does...so worrying about it really doesn't do too much except make me crazy, along with the added measure of being a working mom as well. I want to make sure that my children are happy, cared for, loved, played with, and safe all the time and I feel really lucky that my WONDERFUL mother has been so willing to take care of Austin and Kaya for the past few summers. I know that they are doing great when they're with her and it brings me a lot of peace. So THANKS MOM!!! You're the BEST!!!
I feel so blessed to work with the people that I do. I get frustrated sometimes with occasional lack of dedication because I employ teenagers (mostly), but I hope that my very occasional corrections are kind and provide my guards with love and direction. I firmly believe that the best bosses are the ones that are willing to still get their hands dirty and really know what's going on with their employees. That they aren't above anything, but that they provide guidance, help, direction, and discipline to their charges. It's a chance to parent, in a way, to teach, and to prepare them for things to come. I feel very lucky to have a great boss there in Tamara Vawdry. She is AWESOME, and I'm totally not sucking up. She has helped me be firm and compassionate as a boss and has set a great example to me of hard work. I am very fortunate to work in a field that is so catered to me and my background.
I know this is a totally random post, but I've been thinking about how grateful I am for my position as an Aquatics Director and how I am SOOOOO grateful that I don't have to work at a desk (most of the time!) I am a sunshine girl and am not looking forward to the winter months, but fast-forwarding to next summer when I get the chance to learn, stress, love, and play all over again. ;)
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| My home away from home...LOVE!!! |
