I've been keeping a secret from the Olympic Moms I've met since arriving in London this week. The big announcement was finally made last night at the big P&G Global Mom Moment Event. Fifty of the moms from all around the world who were brought to the Olympics by P&G were (finally) told that each of them would be going to the Opening Ceremony of the Olympics. OMG!! This is a huge gift for these moms who were already thrilled to have been flown in, given accommodations and tickets to their kids' events.
But to witness the opening ceremony? *wipes tears here* I had my camera ready to catch their expressions!
Sheila Findlay's daughter, superstar Canadian triathlete Paula is competing at the Olympics for the first time. When Sheila heard she and her husband Max would actually be there in person to watch their daughter for the Opening Ceremony, she just started bawling.
"I never imagined I would get tickets for this," she told me wiping away her tears. "I wouldn't even know where to start to even buy them. This is amazing!"
There is a little personal twist on this story. Sheila and I used to be roommates almost 30 years ago! Back then she was an elite rower living downstairs with her boyfriend and I was a rock chick on MuchMusic with a room on the main floor of the flat. We lead totally different lives. I thought she was nuts for getting up at 6am to work out and spending all her time exercising.
After a year or so, we went our separate ways....
...Until I saw her walk by me in the hotel lobby here in London thirty years later!
"Sheila?" I called out to her. She turned around! And that's when it hit me. The young superstar triathlete Paula Findlay everyone was talking about was Sheila's daughter!!! There were hugs, tears, and a quick catch up. Last night we sat down after she heard the good news about her tickets, so I could hear her story.
Sheila married neurosurgeon Max and moved to Edmonton. She had three kids, Paula was the eldest. Sheila stayed home with the kids while her husband practiced medicine. Sheila schlepped all three kids to swimming lessons regularly, but none of them enjoyed it. In fact, Paula was only interested in dance. So, for eleven years Sheila was a dancer's mom, stuck with the unfamiliar task of fancy hairdos, frilly costumes, and stage makeup. Then one day, as Sheila puts it, "it just clicked." Paula started asking to be taken to the pool. A lot.
At 17 she had her first big race at the World Championships. But disaster struck when she her bike tire went flat. Sheila found her in a tent sobbing uncontrollably. She couldn't find the right words to console her daughter. Instead, she just lay down beside her and let her grieve.
But in retrospect Sheila thinks losing this race was a blessing in disguise. It allowed Paula time to get back to university, study, train and be ready for her next big competitions down the road—which she aced. Paula was ready for the big time.
I had to ask Sheila if she pushed her daughter into becoming an elite athlete, knowing how important sport was in her own life. Sheila laughed and explained it is impossible to push a child to train. It has to be the other way around; the child has to pull the parents and let them know how far she is ready to push herself. And, very quickly, Sheila had to relinquish all training to her daughter's coach, even though it ate her up inside. Having been an elite athlete herself, Sheila understands there is a sacred bond between an athlete and a coach which a parent can't interrupt.
Her job was to be there, always. First as chauffeur, chef, confidante, and number one supporter. She was also responsible for fundraising, a necessary evil for all competitive athletes. Her club in Edmonton required Sheila to work bingos—every year she was responsible for working 22 Bingo games to support her daughter's training.
And she continues to be there for her daughter, albeit long distance, as Paula now trains in Victoria.
"That's the most important job for a mom of an Olympian," explained Sheila. "It's easy when they're successful. But when they stop doing well, that's the hard part of a mom's job. It wasn't just me that contributed to her success, but I've been the constant all along. Her friends, coach, sponsors will come and go, but your Mom will always be there."
Here's a video produced by P&G featuring Sheila's tale of Raising an Olympian. *Warning: You WILL cry.
P&G Proud Sponsor of Moms.
Pinch me. I'm in London at the Olympics.
It's my first day here and the Thank You Mom program created by P&G began with a big international press conference. Journalists from around the world crowded into the London Media Centre to hear Olympic Athlete Charmaine Crook and P&G Head Honcho Marc Pritchard officially announce the kick-off of the biggest sponsorship in the company's history.
"Behind every athlete is an amazing mom."
That was the jumping off point for creating the Thank You Mom program—P&G's genius way of recognizing their biggest consumers in a heartfelt, nail-on-the head program that celebrates everything moms do behind the scenes for their kids.
At the press conference it was four Olympic Moms from around the globe who stole the show, first with loud cheers from all of us in the press, and then having to endure a media scrum by Olympic paparazzi.
I watched their faces, each of them wiping tears as they waved to us. I can't imagine how overwhelming this must be for them—regular moms who schlepped their kids to their practices, talked them up when they were down, fed them, travelled to watch them compete, but always staying in the background.
For the next three weeks, P&G are making moms the stars. They've allocated a budget of $500,000 to bring in moms and families of athletes to be here in London, not only to watch their kids compete, but to be pampered and cared for during their stay—really bringing the Thank You Mom concept to life.
Marc Pritchard from P&G explained how they asked athletes what they could do to as sponsors to support them during these Olympic Games, and were told that moms and families from around the world don't have a place to really relax and be together at the Games. So, the concept of celebrating the athlete by serving the moms and families was conceived.
Not only are Olympic moms and families being hosted here in London, they will also be able to enjoy the P&G Family home—a drop-in facility offering all the comforts of home and then some. Cover Girl and Olay beauty treatments, a Pampers playroom for young families, a viewing area, meals and internet access. Plus there's a Tide laundry drop-off, where families can leave dirty clothes and have them delivered clean 24 hours later. So smart. What a gift for the athletes—to know their families are well cared for so they can just focus on going for gold!
The P&G Family Home is also a destination where families from around the world will be able to meet and mingle—and share stories of life raising an Olympian. If only those walls could talk. We did get a taste of what life can be like being a mom to an elite athlete when they showed the incredibly moving story of Lori Jones who raised her Olympic athlete daughter Lolo in poverty. Together they persevered and triumphed. Have tissues ready when you watch.
This week I'm going to be catching up with many of the moms and hearing their stories first hand. So be sure to read my Thank You Mom Diary every day this week.
It's time to sing the praises of the unsung heroes of the Olympics. Because children weren't born Olympians.
They were just raised that way.
Want to be inspired? Check out all these videos produced by P&G featuring Olympic moms sharing their stories.
P&G Proud Sponsor of Moms.
I just printed out my Thank you Mom itinerary. It's 14-pages long! I am going to be so busy in London next week covering the Olympics for P&G!
So much on my mind! First, I can't help thinking about the general chaos I will be experiencing in London. I heard that a million new visitors will be descending on this Olympic City which makes me feel claustrophobic just thinking about it. Seriously, last year I was in London with my mom and kids on vacation, and the crowds were huge then. Adding a million tourists and a few athletes into the streets of London is going be be....out of control.
I've been warned I may have to wait up to two hours just to get on the Tube. Better to walk. A lot. Often quite far. In streets jammed with people just like me trying to get somewhere Olympic related. Comfy walking shoes is on the top of my packing list. As well as my most awesome Rockport boots which were designed for the Olympics by Cassie Campbell.
Here's some very exciting news! I am staying at the same hotel as all the moms of the P&G sponsored athletes for the whole week! If you haven't read my first celebratory post about this gig at the Olympics, let me quickly explain. P&G has allocated $500,000 to a fund to bring moms of athletes to London so they can watch their kids compete. Y'know—as a thank you for all their hard work. And I won the lottery by being invited to meet the moms who raised Olympian kids, and capture their amazing experiences at the Olympics.
I imagine each of the moms has received itineraries even longer than mine. Their hosts at P&G are making sure they are going to have the time of our lives. For example, every mom will be receiving complimentary spa treatments. I noticed on my itinerary, I will be spending a few hours at the Wella Salon alongside these proud moms, getting my hair done and as well as a "Patriotic Manicure." Woot!
Highlight for me will be attending Opening Night Ceremonies! (I'm sure for most sponsored moms, opening ceremonies will be a distant second to watching their kids compete.) I've already been warned to arrive two hours before any Olympic event! Can you even imagine the security we will have to go through? But once I'm in my seat, the stress of getting there will be worth it. Academy-award winning filmmaker Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire, Trainspotting) is directing the show and I can only dream about how spectacular it will be.
The next day I'll be getting a tour of the Global Family Home, where P&G will be providing Global athletes, their friends, and families with a place to get away from the crowds and relax during the games. There are a bunch of areas set up to get for moms and the athletes to get pampered at the P&G Beauty Showcase and the babies to get Pampers in the indoor playground area. My favorite area will be the internet cafe. What? I'm addicted.
It seems like I'll be attending three Events—Men's 400m Individual Medley Finals, then Women's 100m Butterfly, Finals plus Men's Cycling Road Race Finals. Don't hate me. It will probably rain.
And, in between all of this, I'll be cozying up to the moms of the athletes to hear their stories and congratulate them on raising amazing kids. Because, when you get down to it, isn't that what the Olympics are really about?
The next time you hear from me I will be jetlagged in the land of Kate Middleton and Fish'n Chips. Let the games begin!
In the meantime, if you want to be inspired, check this out: Facebook.com/thankyoumom
P&G Proud Sponsor of Moms.
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