Synchro
When Starr and I moved to this community, I enrolled her in several community recreation classes and activities in an effort to get her involved and meeting kids her age. We moved at the end of 6th grade so she had a whole summer ahead of her knowing no one in town. The classes she took included candle making, volleyball camp, and a short class of synchronized swimming. Volleyball camp was where she met Sunny for the first time. But it was the synchro that caught her attention.
If you had asked me when Starr was younger to list 100 possible activities that she might be involved with as a teen…synchronized swimming wouldn’t have even crossed my mind, let alone made the list. As it was, I wasn’t thrilled with the choice…the costumes, the headpieces, the Knox gelatin, bobby pins, those damn sequins, nose clips, goggles, all those practice suits, the beach towels, the early morning practices…in addition to the things that, as a parent, I was expected to do. I wanted a “hands off” sport. Is there such a thing?? Well it isn’t synchronized swimming!
Turns out, she was pretty good. She loved it. Bonding with the girls on the team as well as the coaches and all the “synchro moms”…which, against my will, I was. Involved in Parent Committee, being treasurer, fund raising, making costumes and headpieces…I found sequins on my floor long after we were done with synchro! I think they multiply. Starr still calls me the “headpiece queen”. It was often stressful, but well worth it in the end. She also developed some incredible muscles…it is not an easy sport.
2007 Synchronized Swimming Nationals – Stanford Team
