About a month ago, a friend of mine suggested since Max is so up with sports, that he should try this kids triathlon. I looked into it and suggested it. Max was all for it.
"YES! I WANNA DO IT? What is it?"
Haha. 50 yard swim, 1 1/2 mile bike, 1/4 mile run. Seems easy enough, right? For Max it did. Miss Lucy, not so much. Lucy was a little more hesitant. So I bribed her with a new bike and they were both in.
I thought it would be a fun activity to do while Ricardo was out of town. He had an opportunity to go out of town and visit some pals. And considering I was about to get insurance-covered vacation in a few days, of which Ricardo would be waiting on me while I sat on my hysterectomy-recovery throne for six weeks. So, considering all that, yes, please go laugh, have fun, over extend yourself with fun, because when you get back, the fun is over, bucko.
The kids were so excited because we'd gone and picked up our registration packets the day before the triathlon and that just psyched them up. So, the morning of the triathlon, I was almost in tears when I woke up an hour before the kids to see it storming outside, and the weather radar had really, no end in sight. I emailed the contacts and they said they were still on. We watched the lightning and counted, like we always do, the seconds between the lightning and the thunder. They had no clue that we might get there and it would probably be cancelled. I fought tears back, not because my kids balloon was about to get popped, dreams drowning in the rain. No. They were tears of realization that I was the person who would be in the rain helping get all their stuff set up in the transition. Lugging bikes around, helmets, getting numbers on their bikes and helmets. What was I thinking?
Meanwhile, a slight text miscommunication had ensued with Ricardo. I told the kids Ricardo would be there, but then his plans changed. And I missed the plans changed text and didn't see it until AFTER I'd told the kids he was coming. And so now it's raining and Daddy's probably not coming. And it's all Mommy's fault. Not really, but Mommy is left to deal with the crazy disappointment residue which will probably last all day.
We get there, and the people assure me the show will go on. It's raining, and I had to park far from the event so as not to park in the middle of the race. I get that. But it's raining, and I have two bikes, two helmets, and two sets of clothes for two 6 year-olds. And the mandatory meeting has now been changed from 8a.m. to 9a.m. Yeah. I'm not really ok with that folks. I have to get the bikes and stuff to the transition area and attempt to keep my kids dry. So I do what every responsible mother does, I leave the kids with strangers in the meeting room and run 1/2 a mile to the car to get their bikes. Did I mention it's raining? Pouring. I get the bikes to the transition area but don't know exactly how to set them up. And no one will help me. I keep trying to ask, but it's like I have "ignore me please" on my forehead.
"Could someone help me please?"
Finally, I yell in my best mommy voice: "SERIOUSLY DOES ANYONE SEE ME OR HEAR ME?"
I get the help and try to redeem my kick-ass very-funny mother reputation with:"I wonder what kind of pageant mom I would be...." Hahahah! The "helper" didn't laugh. I ran back down in time for the meeting. But I forgot their stickers on their bikes and helmets. So, I ran back up - still raining - and put the stickers on.
I get back to the meeting. I am soaking wet. I figure by that point, I've run 1.5 miles in the rain. It's all okay though, because my kids will appreciate all this work I've done for them. Or not. My kids are happy, we're in the meeting, they are starting to get nervous. Meanwhile, I have a few texts, indeed, Ricardo will make it to the race, right when it gets started. The kids get their very cool triathlete marker numbers on, and their microchips for timing purposes. I ask the officials if I can keep the microchips to keep track of my kids at the park or the zoo. They say no way. I laugh, they don't. I kiss my kids and go get in the stands.
I get another text from Ricardo. He's walking in where does he go? And I realize, that all this work I've done, and he's going to ride in on his chariot and completely negate all the work I've done. For just a millisecond, I'm fairly mift. But then I know that I was the one who told them their dad would be here to see them do this triathlon. So, it's my ass if he DOESN'T show. All that with the fact, that my kids are about to jump in a 12' deep pool and swim a distance longer than they ever had. Stupid official wouldn't let them wear floaties. Whatever.
The kids walk in to the pool area, beaming with pride. Then they see Ricardo. And they are happy he's there. I think they are happy I'm there too. This is going to be a big gigantic step. And it sure was. Those kids rocked out every transition, bike, swim,and run. They were good at it and had fun. They were so proud of themselves and each other. To see that look in their eyes - I'm happy to have done all that work in the rain. And I'm glad Ricardo got to see it too. Even if he rode in on his chariot to see it.
That's how I roll.
