Debbie Mizikowski, 55, of Millcreek Township, has qualified for the World Reebok CrossFit Games, which begin July 13 in Los Angeles. Mizikowski was photographed at the CrossFit EOS gym in Erie on July 5./CHRISTOPHER MILLETTE/ERIE TIMES-NEWS

Debbie Mizikowski, 55, of Millcreek Township, heads to LA this week for the World Reebok CrossFit Games.

I’ve known Debbie since grade school, and more recently, our daughters lived together in Pittsburgh.

A frequent winner of cross country skiing and cycling events in the Highmark Quad games, this mom qualified for the ages 55-59 Masters Division of the CrossFit Games. She finished 12th out of 240 women at a regional competition.

Pam Parker is an award-winning writer and editor for Lake Erie LifeStyle, Her Times and House to Home at the Erie Times-News in Erie, Pa.

If you live near water, you want to make sure your kids can swim as early as you can. How early is too early? It depends on the child.

Some kids can start as infants — with you in a Baby and me class. Some can’t. My oldest son was a fish in the YWCA and Millcreek swim classes at age 3, but my daughter wasn’t keen on the whole thing as a baby. She liked saying and doing the “kicky, kicky, kicky” part, but that was about it. We started her again when she had friends she could hang out with.

My youngest son battled ear infections and every time we signed him up for swim classes, he never made it through the classes. But when neighbors installed a pool, he became a great swimmer at age 5. The main thing: Give your kids the opportunity to learn, but don’t push too hard. Just like all kids learn to talk and walk at different ages — they’ll take to the water when they are ready.

What I learned: Unless you are a professional, sign your kids up with a pro — it’s much easier and more fun for you and your child.  And be prepared for them to fail at some things. They may never get the breathing down on the crawl but master the butterfly or backstroke with ease.

Encourage them at every level. Remember, It takes a lot of endurance for little kids to swim across the width of a pool let alone a length of the pool. But before you know it, they’ll be swimming lengths … and loving it. Click on the link for an age by age guide from Parents magazine.

Pam Parker is award-winning writer and editor for Lake Erie LifeStyle, Her Times and House to Home at the Erie Times-News in Erie, Pa.

Three things I’m loving this week:

1. Smooth sailing, er, driving. It occurred to me yesterday that it’s been weeks since we’ve had to deal with crappy driving conditions and, for that, especially in Erie in January/February, I am truly grateful. (knock on wood!).

2. “Cougar Town.” I hated this new Courtney Cox ABC TV show the first couple of times I saw it. I even counted it among the “things I’m not loving” in October.

But because I’m too lazy to get up and retrieve the remote control from my sleeping husband’s hand, I’ve watched several episodes and have come to love it. (This is the same way I came to love “The Office,” by the way). It’s a quirky show — think “Scrubs” — that can take some getting used to, but once you get the humor….it’s positively hysterical.

If you, like me, wrote it off early on, you might want to give it another chance.

3. Lap swimming. When I was pregnant with Kelly I swam a mile three times a week before work. It was relaxing and made me feel light despite the watermelon growing in my belly.

Once the girls came, I got away from swimming. It’s not the quickest of exercise endeavors (at least not for me) and requires going to the gym, bullying my way into a lane, getting wet, showering, getting dry, etc., etc. Aerobics class or throwing on a pair of running shoes and taking off out the door is just easier and quicker.

But, last night I swam laps while Kelly was in swim class and was reminded how entirely peaceful swimming is.

No one can talk to you. No blaring music. No shouting instructor. No jockeying for floor space. No sweating (some might, I don’t). It’s quiet. It’s cool. I can’t see much except the lane line below me. I can’t think about much (unless I want to lose count of what lap I’m on). I just breathe, count constantly (one, one, one, one, one) and glide. Ahhhh…..

Three things I’m not loving this week

1. Plantar fasciitis. Who knew this common runner’s problem has been the cause of many of my foot, heel, arch issues in the last several years. The folks at Hertle & Brown Physical Therapy did.

It hit me hard in the left foot on during my run Sunday. It’s something that’s happened off & on for years now.  After just one treatment session at Hertle & Brown yesterday, my foot already feels much better.  (And that’s something I’m loving this week).

So long high heels…it was fun while it lasted.

2. Houseplants in winter. Is it just me…or do your houseplants attempt suicide every winter, too? I have two giant potted plants that are dropping leaves like a freaking oak tree in October.

I know they’re upset that they are no longer soaking up the sunshine and fresh air on the front porch, but…honestly, we’re all wilting in the dark cold of another Erie winter…just deal with it. (And stop littering all over my living room floor or you’re going to taking a one-way ride on the big green garbage truck).

3. John Edwards = monumental liar. Need I say more?