I vividly remember the girls’ first swim lesson, last
summer. I was so proud that they didn’t
fuss or whine…they listened to the coach…and they seemed to have fun kicking in
the pool. Sure, they wouldn’t get their
faces wet, but it was only the first class, right???
While I still think the overall experience was a valuable
one, sadly we didn’t get much further in the two swim sessions we had last
summer. There was plenty of kicking, but
I know the girls never fully got their faces wet, much less went
underwater.
This year, I was so thrilled when the girls got their faces
wet during the first couple of swim lessons.
The girls were having fun, and I was hopeful that we’d get a little
closer to submersion at some point.
To my wonderful surprise, it wasn’t long before the girls
were getting their mouths…then their noses…and then their eyes in the
water. That was soon followed by them
jumping off the side of the pool!!! Of
course Miss Jeanie met them immediately, but I could never have imagined that
after our experience a year ago.
After five straight swimming lessons a couple of weeks ago,
we had to take a break to recover from two cases of swimmer’s ear. (While I was so very sad to see our girls
with sore ears, it was scientific affirmation that they had, in fact, been
UNDERWATER. It wasn’t just a figment of
my imagination!)
I was afraid that the girls might associate the pain in
their ears with swimming and shy away from more time in the pool. Thankfully, that didn’t happen. They understood why we were taking some time
off, but every day they asked (multiple times), “Mommy, when can we go swimming
again?”
Yesterday was our first day in the pool in just over a
week. The girls were very excited, but I
didn’t know what to expect. Would they
remember what they’d learned so far?
Would they be timid – at least at first – with getting their faces
wet? Would they fear getting water in
their ears?
Baby A asked to go first.
I was a little surprised by that, as to date, B has always been “elected”
to take the first turn.
I sat there in total AMAZEMENT. Baby A hopped right in the pool like she hadn’t
missed a beat. She got her mouth wet, and
then her nose, and then she started going under to retrieve dive rings from the
steps of the pool…deeper and deeper and deeper.
She was ecstatic to get to work with the kickboard. She actually leaped out of the pool to get
it, giggling wildly, surprising even her teacher. When Miss Jeanie told her to put her face in
the water and kick, SHE DID!!! And she
did it over and over and over!!!
It felt so incredible…to be witnessing what I can only
describe as a breakthrough. It was like
my A suddenly “got it”.
She spent the majority of the lesson “swimming” from Miss
Jeanie to the side of the pool, and then pushing off to swim back to Miss
Jeanie. Each time, her face was in the
water, arms were in “swim position”, and her legs were outstretched, kicking. And each time, she came up with the HUGEST
smile on her face.
Not only was it amazing to witness this breakthrough, but it
was such a blessing to see her be so proud of herself. I know my smile was just as big as I watched
my baby girl.
When it was her turn, Baby B did really well, too. She got right back in with her face in the
water and followed directions very well.
It wasn’t the same “breakthrough” feeling as I had with A, but I’m so
thankful she fell right back in line with how far she’d come the week prior.
I can’t quite put my finger on it…that the girls are a year
older? That this teacher takes a
different approach? That the blowing of
bubbles in the bathtub over the past 10 months was really worth it?
No matter…I couldn’t be more happy that the girls are having
such a successful swim experience this year.
I certainly am not ready to call the Olympic Development Program, but I
am hopeful it will set them up for a lifetime of fun in the water.
5 comments:
Awesome! I love watching little kids swimming... such a huge milestone. Especially in the hot, hot south! Congrats to your little fish!
Half tempted to drive down for lessons with this lady!!
wahoo!! this lady is the real deal!! my kids' teacher was so blah. :( i'm hopeful that this summer we can work on some stuff at the lake while we're there. but i really wish we had someone like this!!
It's the teacher - the right one can get kids to do almost anything :)
Yeah!! We had improvement from everyone this spring, too! Adam, while not wanting to get his face wet still or jump in, is overall MUCH more comfortable in the water - So glad to not have him freak out every session this year! Sarah, who didn't want to get her face wet even at the start of this session can swim underwater a good stretch now! wow!
yeah for lil fishies!
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