Cropperfield Crocs

This year is Brody's first year swimming on the big kid Crocs team and Jett's first year as a mini Croc.  We are hoping the morning practices improve their swimming skills.  Sadly I don't have any pictures of Jett practicing because parents were not aloud on the deck during practice.

Spoiler:  Brody and Jett really enjoyed swim team this year.  I was afraid the cold morning practices would ruin it for them but they never minded.  Brody swam freestyle and backstroke in every meet that we were in town for.  His swimming times improved tremendously over the summer.  At his first race he was certain as the sky is blue that he would be in first place and when he finished dead last he was heart broken.  When he jumped out of the water and eagerly asked me what place he got it killed me to tell him he came in last.  I wanted so bad to tell him that the other kids cheated or something to take away his appointment.  He immediately broke out in hurtful tears.  I quickly pulled him aside to a back staircase and talked him through it.  A random other mom even came to tell him that he would still get a ribbon but he just shouted at her that he didn't deserve it.  I am so glad I let him feel this raw disappointment in himself because his last race of the season he came in first place and got to see how his handwork at practice payed off.  I hope that this swim season taught him something more than just swimming and that it was a good life lesson for him.

Jett got a little better on the mini crocs team but I don't think they had the staff to really help the kids improve their skills.  He enjoyed being part of the team though and his swimming skills made a huge improvement after our summer vacation to the condo.