Swimming

One of my big goals this summer is to get our kids comfortable with the water and swimming. Today was the last day of our first session of swim lessons. We’ve been at the pool everyday for the last two weeks. If you have followed the saga on Facebook, you know that it started off a little rough and tumbled.

Therese’s success I largely attribute to Mrs. Cey taking us to the pool in Houston and working with her the day before we started lessons. It also helped to see her best friend swimming quite well. So she took to the water and the lessons immediately. Although she told us she would NEVER put her head under water, by last weekend she was showing her dad just what she could do. Today she practiced trying to swim to me on her own.

Fulton on the other hand was a completely different story. He didn’t want to have anything to do with swim lessons from day one. He would not go in the water that was deeper than his knees. He sinned all kinds of ways against the 4th commandment when I tried to carry him into the water and made quite a bit of noise. He wouldn’t even practice kicking in the water with the swim instructor. When the kids were holding on the edge of the pool to practice kicking, 3/4 of his body was out of the water. Only from his knees down got wet. On Monday he got into quite a bit of trouble for his behavior at home. So we put him in blackout from his toys and treats until he did better at swim class. Tuesday there was little improvement but he started taking a liking to using the kickboard–but still in blackout. Then Therese wanted to make cupcakes and Fulton couldn’t have one–unless he went into the water with their swim instructor. The way to a little man is through his stomach. Yesterday he did it! Today he was so excited and kept wanting to swim with the instructor. I only wish he had this enthusiasm last week.

Muffin started parroting Fulton’s fear but when we took the kids swimming last weekend, she enjoyed going swimming with Adam or I. I wish she could be in the classes but she’s still too young. Cecilia also likes the water. But who wouldn’t like kicking back and floating in a little baby tube. It’s funny to see her little legs crossed at the ankles while she’s reclining watching all the other kids.

I started out last week wondering how on earth I was going to manage taking 4 kids to the pool. My learning curve has been exponential and it was good I had Mrs. Cey to give me some tips when we were in Houston. I’m very thankful that our pool has a beach style entry for the kids area that goes to only 3 feet deep. We’ve been going in the mornings from10:30 to noon. For the last couple of days, I put Cecilia to nap at the pool. That worked SO well. I was able to work with the other three kids while she napped. Today I felt I had my own little class. Therese was trying to swim to me. Fulton and Gianna were jumping to me and I was taking them around to practice kicking. It almost looked like I had it together!  OH! And don’t forget the cool pool snacks. Today we went to get a couple of kickboards (at Wal-Mart after searching all over town for something without an obnoxious cartoon character like DORA and Sponge Bob) and a few more pool toys. Now, I just need more sunblock. All the kids and Adam have swim shirts. My girls are the most modestly dressed at the pool. (Thanks to Costco! I *heart* Costco.) I, however, am starting to look Mexican again. I haven’t been this dark in 10 years–and it’s only mid-June!