Little Fish

Summer's in full swing around here, complete with kiddie pool in the backyard. The kids are so excited to be in the water now that it's warm. Well, let me clarify...they are excited to have their bodies in the water, but are pretty adamant that their faces should not touch the water for any reason. Thus, the swim lessons we are taking this week and next. I am not all that fond of the water, and apparently my hesitancy was inbred in my children as well. Paige thinks she can swim, but really is very happy just to sit on the steps of the pool and splash. Garrett knows he can't swim, and so begins to freak out any time he thinks he will be even a millimeter out of reach from the edge of the pool. I could care less if my kids like to swim, I only care that they know HOW, in case they need to save themselves some day.

So, amid protests and some tears, we got ready on Monday for the first day of swim lessons. Garrett kept saying "But I can't swim! They'll make me swim and I can't!" I tried fruitlessly to explain that the whole point of lessons is so they can teach you to swim. Eventually I just told him that he would continue taking lessons until he learned how, so he might as well suck it up and try his best. (Please note: not my exact words!)

When we arrived at the pool, the lifeguards "tested" each kid to see which class they should be in: beginner, intermediate, or advanced. The test pretty much consisted of them telling the kids to put their face in the water and blow bubbles, and then asking them to do some strokes while the lifeguard supported them. I think the lifeguard just looked at Garrett's size (as usual, one of the biggest), because she immediately put him in the advanced class. The mom in me wanted to run over and explain that he couldn't swim, could he go in the easier class??? But, I held my tongue and decided maybe a little peer pressure would be good for him. Never mind that the other 5 kids in the advanced class were like little fish paddling all over the pool.

Long story short, it only took about 10 minutes (and several near-drownings) for the advanced class teacher to send Garrett over to the intermediate class. The good thing was, Garrett actually tried to do everything the advanced class was doing, so when he got to the easier class, he was all confident and full of smiles. So, the end result of our swim lessons is this:

Yes, that is my child's face actually in the water. And then! Followed by a smile! Will wonders never cease??

Paige loves her lessons, although she diligently tries to blow her bubbles without letting her entire face get in the water. For her first time by herself, though, she's doing great!

How's your summer going?