Three Tips for Getting off the Emotional Rollercoaster of Swim Parenting

Watching our kids compete can feel like an emotional rollercoaster. I’ve felt this myself more than once. One minute I’m on top of the world when they get a best time and win their event. Then, in the abyss when they don’t show up for their event and I wonder what happened.

I was talking with a fellow swim parent and she said, “It drives me crazy that their anxiety or ups and downs puts us on their roller coaster.” She’s a psychologist and her words made me realize that this roller coaster analogy is true in all aspects of parenting, from babyhood through adulthood, not just swimming. Once you think everything is calm, something is bound to happen to get the excitement, adrenaline or worry going again.