Swim Lessons

This has been a great year for swim lessons. 

We enrolled Payton for the first time this past spring and it was doozy! For the first several weeks that I put her in classes, she screamed when I dropped her off, refused to get in the water, cried when the instructor made her try new things, yelled for Mommy, and tried to get out of the pool and run to me (successfully at times).  So, eventually, with the encouragement of other parents, I decided to leave the pool area and let the instructor do her job.  That was hard for a Momma to do but it eventually worked and Payton warmed up to water.  After 3 months of lessons, she got very comfortable in the water and learned some basic swimming skills. Progress!! 

Anna had been in swim lessons on and off for a few years, but wasn't able to pass level one because she wouldn't put her head under the water.  We prayed with her, and had lots of talks about being careful around water but not fearful of swimming.  Well, this year we decided to start offering rewards for progress.  After her evaluation at the end of April, the instructor said that Anna needed another session in level one.  She was devastated.  At one point she said, "Mom, I know you think I'm crying b/c I don't get a toy, but really I'm crying b/c I didn't pass and I could have."  My heart!!!   Well, the next month she passed level one and now she is ready for level 3. She's swimming without a floating device and is learning how to dive.  I'm so happy for her. : )

  

 

On a fun note - do you notice the aerobics class in the background?   There's a lot of older ladies who take this class.  A few weeks ago a few of them stopped me and asked about my pregnancy.  They told me that every week the class talks about my growing belly and that it's been fun for them to watch me progress over the past several months.  So funny and sweet!