It runs in the family
Kennedy just finished her third successful year of cheerleading camp at our house. She hired three of her friends to help coach about 20 girls some dances, cheers, jumps and stunts. I am so impressed with how professional they are with the girls. Watching all this reminds me of my "little" business I started while in high school. A friend and I started teaching swimming lessons to a few neighbors in our backyard pool. Before you knew it, I was hiring out extra teachers so I didn't have to turn anyone away. Then I had my siblings jump in and start teaching as well. My poor mother even had to pitch in if a teacher was sick. I will never forget watching her in the deep end, clinging to a life jacket for dear life as some wild maniac 6 year old jumped straight at her from the diving board! Well, here we are, 22+ years later and would you believe those swimming lessons are still going on in my parents backyard! (Shhhh, don't tell the county or they will try to shut them down again). What have I done to my poor mother? Yeah, I provided a good summer living for my siblings but no one put in more time on those lessons than my mom! To this day, about May every year her phone rings off the hook with people wanting to know when lessons will start. Then she works until late in the night for weeks on end trying to please everyone with when they want to come, with who they want to come and then trying to arrange car pools for everyone so the neighbors don't complain about parking. Sorry mom! I am beginning to wonder if I am going to have to be out in my backyard when I am in 60's teaching little girls the difference between a dagger and a candlestick and making cradle catches! Hopefully what goes around doesn't really come around!
Comments
You can rub in you long summer, we deserve it. We love starting summer in May, but it's always tough to go back in August. Then again, you guys were still wearing long sleeves in May, and who wants to start summer like that???
Too bad our little girls here in Utah can't be there for her clinic. They would love it!
Oh yes, I remember only too well being terrified when kids were jumping off the diving board into my face!
Now, my duties consist of organizing lessons and being the parking Nazi and baby sitter to the kids whose Mom's drop them off and come back for them in 3 or 4 hours!
At least we are still not teaching 120 kids per day as we did at the peak of our lessons. Each of our kids (except Scott Stewart who was on his mission when Heidi began teaching) has taught. Not only have they taught, but also all of their spouses took their turns. Scott's wife, Jolie taught swimming before she married Scott, so that is really something. It is hard work but so rewarding. We have watched little 3 year olds who are nervous and afraid who have gone on to swim for their high schools.