My Son's first swim meet- *Warning: Parental Bias*

Mosbonian · 04-30-2005, 08:32 PM

As most of you who are regulars know, my son has been diagnosed with Asperger's Autism, which is what is considered a "high-functioning" form of Autism. Still, it has been a bit of a struggle helping him to find a sport he likes and can do with some sort of capability that keeps him from getting discouraged or made fun of by the other kids. One thing he has always been able to do naturally is swimming, so we have encouraged that as much as possible.

Well, earlier this year my wife was told of a swim club/class begin held here in Columbia at MU for kids who are physically or mentally challenged that trains them for Special Olympics competition. We enrolled Jacob with the thought of putting him in the Beginner's class to have trained correctly, but were informed that his skill level (even though he never received any formal training) was more on the Advanced level. So he has been training with kids 3 or more years older than him who have been in competition for several years. (A couple actually swim on one of the local high school swim teams).

Today was the Sectional's qualifying meet held at Bridger Junior High in Independence. Any of the kids who medal qualify for the State Special Olympics which will be held here in Columbia. The goal for my wife and I was just to let him compete and learn from the experience. Little did we know....or believe...especially since his I, his father, only managed to medal in the Boat Anchor Division.

He was scheduled to swim in 3 different races....the 50 Meter backstroke, the 50 meter Freestyle, and the 4x25 Mixed Relay. I got there about a half hour before he was supposed to swim, and when i arrived I was as nervous as anyone, while my son was as calm as could be.

con't....

**Dartgod** · 04-30-2005, 08:38 PM

Wellll? We're waiting.....

milkman · 04-30-2005, 08:41 PM

Tick,tick tick, tick.

Well?

Hammock Parties · 04-30-2005, 08:42 PM

I think mmaddog drowned.

**Rain Man** · 04-30-2005, 08:43 PM

His wife must've just told him that it's not really his kid.

Sure-Oz · 04-30-2005, 08:46 PM

*warning incomplete thread....*

Mosbonian · 04-30-2005, 08:48 PM

The time for his first event, and what he claims is his worst, came...the 50 meter backstroke. He was in the pool with the boys in his Class/Division along with some boys in other Class/Divisions. (They combined some of the events by classes so that they could speed up the Swim Meet and utilize all the swim lanes.) They starter buzzer went off and off they went. Jacob got a slow start, but after getting comfortable in the water he started to get a rhythm and was making some good progress. by the start of the second lap, not only was he leading his class he was close behind the two leaders of the next class/division up. When the race was over Jacob had WON the Gold Medal in his Class and almost caught the older boys. I was absolutely ecstatic!!!!!! I think my wife and I were more enthused than he was....

His next event was his best....the 50 Meter Freestyle, and he showed it. Once again they combined all the classes/divisions into one race, (even though each class/division awarded separate medals) and absolutely smoked them all !!! He beat everyone else by 2 strokes and won his class/division by half the length of the pool. I couldn't believe it...all i wanted him to do was compete, and give it his all, and he had won Gold Medals in both events.

His last event, the 4x25 Mixed Relay Freestyle pitted him with swimmers in his club ( all ages) against other teams made up the same mix. He swam the first leg and took a commanding lead that his team never relinquished. In fact, their team finished all 4 legs of their swim before all but one other team were just finishing with their 3rd leg.

Talk about a stoked and proud Papa...I must admit I had a couple of tears in my eyes, when he was doing so well. It's always good to see you children succeed in something after they have struggled in finding what they love. I have been on an all day high....and i have never seen my son so proud of doing something as I saw him today. And even better...he seems to have made a couple of friends on the swim team, which is a milestone because he is normally a loner.

con't

Mosbonian · 04-30-2005, 09:02 PM

Now it is on to the State....we have three weeks to prepare and i am not sure I can stand it.

All I ever wanted for BigDog, (his nickname...a play on my mmaddog name) was for him to compete....to experience what it is like to go up against your fellow man, win or lose, and do you best. I have been telling him I would be proud of him no matter what he did today, that in my eyes, he was already a winner by competing. But he did more than I could have hoped for, and I can't quit talking about it.

And more than that, today I came to have a whole new level of respect to the Special Olympics, and the Special Olympians who compete. To watch these special persons as they compete, giving it their all doing something we take for granted, and seeing the joy they have in just finishing, makes me humbled. I watched as one lone young lady swam the 200 meter freestyle all by herself in the pool...oblivious to the fact that she was all alone...and quite frankly she was pretty damn good!!! I know I would have been gasping for air after the first 25 meters and she swam it as if it was no struggle. After that I saw another Special Olympian swim the 100 meter backstroke all by himself.....and do it as if there was little effort in it.

I took a lot away from my first experience as a parent of a Special Olympian....I must admit, as I said, to being completely humbled by the experience......

mmaddog
*******

**Rain Man** · 04-30-2005, 08:52 PM

Congrats, mmaddog. It's great that your son has found an area of talent.

(This is starting to make me feel guilty for never doing a single thing that made my dad proud.)

patteeu · 04-30-2005, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rain Man

Congrats, mmaddog. It's great that your son has found an area of talent.

(This is starting to make me feel guilty for never doing a single thing that made my dad proud.)

Your dad wasn't big on internet polls, huh?

patteeu · 04-30-2005, 10:09 PM

Heartwarming story, mmaddog. Thanks for sharing. It's great to hear that your boy had a positive experience.

redsurfer11 · 04-30-2005, 10:35 PM

Congrats MMAddog, now you can bring him to the east coast to learn boogy-boarding in the surf. My wife and kids spend every spare minute down at the beach all summer. Swimming is one thing, owning the waves is another.

milkman · 04-30-2005, 08:54 PM

Geez, so he won some Gold Medals.
Big frikken deal.

J/K. That's outstanding.
Congrats to son and proud papa.

But wait (for how long), there's more.

chiefs4me · 04-30-2005, 09:00 PM

Where's the rest of the story....of course I don't know how it could be better then his gold medals......

Congratulations little dog..

**cdcox** · 04-30-2005, 09:04 PM

Congratulations! Enjoy your son's triumphs!

04-30-2005, 08:32 PM	Topic Starter
Mosbonian On Hiatus Join Date: Aug 2000 Casino cash: $2029700	My Son's first swim meet- Warning: Parental Bias As most of you who are regulars know, my son has been diagnosed with Asperger's Autism, which is what is considered a "high-functioning" form of Autism. Still, it has been a bit of a struggle helping him to find a sport he likes and can do with some sort of capability that keeps him from getting discouraged or made fun of by the other kids. One thing he has always been able to do naturally is swimming, so we have encouraged that as much as possible. Well, earlier this year my wife was told of a swim club/class begin held here in Columbia at MU for kids who are physically or mentally challenged that trains them for Special Olympics competition. We enrolled Jacob with the thought of putting him in the Beginner's class to have trained correctly, but were informed that his skill level (even though he never received any formal training) was more on the Advanced level. So he has been training with kids 3 or more years older than him who have been in competition for several years. (A couple actually swim on one of the local high school swim teams). Today was the Sectional's qualifying meet held at Bridger Junior High in Independence. Any of the kids who medal qualify for the State Special Olympics which will be held here in Columbia. The goal for my wife and I was just to let him compete and learn from the experience. Little did we know....or believe...especially since his I, his father, only managed to medal in the Boat Anchor Division. He was scheduled to swim in 3 different races....the 50 Meter backstroke, the 50 meter Freestyle, and the 4x25 Mixed Relay. I got there about a half hour before he was supposed to swim, and when i arrived I was as nervous as anyone, while my son was as calm as could be. con't....
Posts: 11,409

04-30-2005, 08:38 PM	#2
Dartgod Wasted away again... Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: in Margaritaville Casino cash: $6880000	Wellll? We're waiting..... __________________ If you shed a tear for me, please make it a tear of joy. -Joe Tracy (Nzoner) . .
Posts: 51,239

04-30-2005, 08:41 PM	#3
milkman Dumbass! Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Leading the Marty bashing Casino cash: $10029395	Tick,tick tick, tick. Well? __________________
Posts: 70,769

04-30-2005, 08:42 PM	#4
Hammock Parties I'll be back. Join Date: Nov 2002 Casino cash: $4170478	I think mmaddog drowned. __________________ Chiefs game films
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04-30-2005, 08:43 PM	#5
Rain Man NFL's #1 Ermines Fan Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: My house Casino cash: $2778491 VARSITY	His wife must've just told him that it's not really his kid. __________________ I'm putting random letters here as a celebration of free speech: xigrakgrah misorojeq rkemeseit.
Posts: 141,864

04-30-2005, 08:48 PM	#7
Mosbonian On Hiatus Join Date: Aug 2000 Casino cash: $2029700	The time for his first event, and what he claims is his worst, came...the 50 meter backstroke. He was in the pool with the boys in his Class/Division along with some boys in other Class/Divisions. (They combined some of the events by classes so that they could speed up the Swim Meet and utilize all the swim lanes.) They starter buzzer went off and off they went. Jacob got a slow start, but after getting comfortable in the water he started to get a rhythm and was making some good progress. by the start of the second lap, not only was he leading his class he was close behind the two leaders of the next class/division up. When the race was over Jacob had WON the Gold Medal in his Class and almost caught the older boys. I was absolutely ecstatic!!!!!! I think my wife and I were more enthused than he was.... His next event was his best....the 50 Meter Freestyle, and he showed it. Once again they combined all the classes/divisions into one race, (even though each class/division awarded separate medals) and absolutely smoked them all !!! He beat everyone else by 2 strokes and won his class/division by half the length of the pool. I couldn't believe it...all i wanted him to do was compete, and give it his all, and he had won Gold Medals in both events. His last event, the 4x25 Mixed Relay Freestyle pitted him with swimmers in his club ( all ages) against other teams made up the same mix. He swam the first leg and took a commanding lead that his team never relinquished. In fact, their team finished all 4 legs of their swim before all but one other team were just finishing with their 3rd leg. Talk about a stoked and proud Papa...I must admit I had a couple of tears in my eyes, when he was doing so well. It's always good to see you children succeed in something after they have struggled in finding what they love. I have been on an all day high....and i have never seen my son so proud of doing something as I saw him today. And even better...he seems to have made a couple of friends on the swim team, which is a milestone because he is normally a loner. con't
Posts: 11,409

04-30-2005, 09:02 PM	#8
Mosbonian On Hiatus Join Date: Aug 2000 Casino cash: $2029700	Now it is on to the State....we have three weeks to prepare and i am not sure I can stand it. All I ever wanted for BigDog, (his nickname...a play on my mmaddog name) was for him to compete....to experience what it is like to go up against your fellow man, win or lose, and do you best. I have been telling him I would be proud of him no matter what he did today, that in my eyes, he was already a winner by competing. But he did more than I could have hoped for, and I can't quit talking about it. And more than that, today I came to have a whole new level of respect to the Special Olympics, and the Special Olympians who compete. To watch these special persons as they compete, giving it their all doing something we take for granted, and seeing the joy they have in just finishing, makes me humbled. I watched as one lone young lady swam the 200 meter freestyle all by herself in the pool...oblivious to the fact that she was all alone...and quite frankly she was pretty damn good!!! I know I would have been gasping for air after the first 25 meters and she swam it as if it was no struggle. After that I saw another Special Olympian swim the 100 meter backstroke all by himself.....and do it as if there was little effort in it. I took a lot away from my first experience as a parent of a Special Olympian....I must admit, as I said, to being completely humbled by the experience...... mmaddog *******
Posts: 11,409

04-30-2005, 08:52 PM	#9
Rain Man NFL's #1 Ermines Fan Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: My house Casino cash: $2778491 VARSITY	Congrats, mmaddog. It's great that your son has found an area of talent. (This is starting to make me feel guilty for never doing a single thing that made my dad proud.) __________________ I'm putting random letters here as a celebration of free speech: xigrakgrah misorojeq rkemeseit.
Posts: 141,864

04-30-2005, 10:09 PM	#11
patteeu The 23rd Pillar Join Date: Sep 2002 Casino cash: $10019237	Heartwarming story, mmaddog. Thanks for sharing. It's great to hear that your boy had a positive experience. __________________ “Boy, you all want power. God, I hope you never get it.” - Lindsay Graham
Posts: 110,871

04-30-2005, 10:35 PM	#12
redsurfer11 Veteran Join Date: Oct 2000 Casino cash: $10004900	Congrats MMAddog, now you can bring him to the east coast to learn boogy-boarding in the surf. My wife and kids spend every spare minute down at the beach all summer. Swimming is one thing, owning the waves is another.
Posts: 2,581

04-30-2005, 08:54 PM	#13
milkman Dumbass! Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Leading the Marty bashing Casino cash: $10029395	Geez, so he won some Gold Medals. Big frikken deal. J/K. That's outstanding. Congrats to son and proud papa. But wait (for how long), there's more. __________________
Posts: 70,769

04-30-2005, 09:00 PM	#14
chiefs4me Whatever.. Join Date: Sep 2004 Casino cash: $10004900	Where's the rest of the story....of course I don't know how it could be better then his gold medals...... Congratulations little dog..
Posts: 9,512

04-30-2005, 09:04 PM	#15
cdcox www.nfl-forecast.com Join Date: Sep 2000 Casino cash: $2031769	Congratulations! Enjoy your son's triumphs!
Posts: 45,546