And the 2023 IHSAA State Breastroke Champion is...

Piper Frank!

Piper swam for the first time (ok, so it was an un-official swim) this weekend. Yes, she had a pool noodle. But she didn't have any other flotation device. She also did not have mommy or daddy holding on. In fact, I hear she yelled at her daddy for trying to help.

When Piper wants to do something herself (which is everything) - she yells SELF! SELF! SELF!

Unfortunately, I wasn't there to witness this event. I had a wedding to shoot.

Sometimes I get all freaked out - that Piper will remember I work a lot. That one day, she'll come to me and say "Mommy, why do you work so much?" With Harry Chapin's "Cats in the Cradle" playing softly in the background. But, I realize she's not the only child with two working parents. And I realize that no matter what I do, what style of parenting I apply, or how often I am around - that she will be screwed up in one way or the other. All kids are. All adults are. Show me one person who doesn't have issues. There you go. I rest my case.

I'm there every evening to tuck her in, or at least give her a good nights kiss. Brian and I make sure that we all sit down to dinner together every night. Well, at least he and I sit down to dinner. Piper has her own ideas most nights. I'm not going to sit on her to make her eat, I'm not going to beat her. I can yell at her and give her time outs but if she doesn't want to eat, she doesn't want to eat. I'm not going to make her life miserable about it. Someday, she will discover how to relax and sit still. Unfortunately, I'm not a very good role model in that department. Some parents say "I don't know where she gets it. I don't know who's kid she is." I think there's no question in this case. :)