We have spent the last two weeks at swimming lessons every morning. I was able to get the three swimmers (Emily, Makayla, and Ricky) in lessons at the same time despite being in three different classes. Honestly, I probably would not have signed them up if I had to sign them up at different times for each person--I'm not a fan of spending all my summer time at the pool--especially if I don't get to swim.
The first few days of lessons were rough to say the least. Andrew was VERY upset about not having a class to go to. He insisted on wearing his swimsuit every day for two weeks. Sometimes he would take a shower afterwards just to get wet. Sometimes I was able to sneak him into the wading pool (feet only) for a few minutes before lessons. But, of all of our children, Andrew loves swimming the most (even at his young age). It was definitely a sacrifice on his part to sit on the sidelines and watch. He had to display a lot of control to not jump right in the pool (sometimes I had to control him when he wouldn't control himself).
On the last day of swimming lessons, he got away from me for a few minutes and climbed up the 4-foot-high lifeguard tower. He sat right on top in the chair and said, "I'm the lifeguard swimmer!" I got him down before he got into trouble. In spite of anything we do, though, I think Andrew is bound to be the swimming type. Next year, when he is a three-year-old, he'll be able to have a class of his own.
Ricky hopped right in the pool on the first day. For the remainder of the day, all he could talk about was what he did at swimming lessons. I didn't find out until the next day when he refused to get into the pool that he was terrified. Ricky has an uncanny ability to talk himself into things. Many of you know that he does this when he is trying to eat something he doesn't like so that he can have dessert. He'll say, "Mmmm this is delicious, and then practically gag as he tries to swallow down his vegetables." Well, he had been talking up swimming lessons so that he would like them, and it didn't work.
After two days of fighting him into the pool, the lifeguard suggested we bring him early and have him swim in the wading pool for 10 minutes before class. Well, it worked! By the end of the two weeks, he was a pro. In fact, on the last day of lessons, we were a little early. Ricky got right in the pool where his class meets and started swimming around like a crazy man. I was yelling for him to get out and sit on the side until class, but he was ignoring me. His teacher had to swim over and tell him to get out of the pool until class started.
I tried very hard to get pictures of everybody on the one day picture-taking was allowed (there are some weird rules here). I managed to get decent pictures of everybody but Makayla. She was the best at swimming lessons. She loved it and looked forward to it every day. After one week, she sprained her wrist and was told she shouldn't participate in swimming lessons the following week. Well, she took one day off, and couldn't stay out. She refused to tread water, though, so Ricky and her will be in the same level next time.
The first few days of lessons were rough to say the least. Andrew was VERY upset about not having a class to go to. He insisted on wearing his swimsuit every day for two weeks. Sometimes he would take a shower afterwards just to get wet. Sometimes I was able to sneak him into the wading pool (feet only) for a few minutes before lessons. But, of all of our children, Andrew loves swimming the most (even at his young age). It was definitely a sacrifice on his part to sit on the sidelines and watch. He had to display a lot of control to not jump right in the pool (sometimes I had to control him when he wouldn't control himself).
On the last day of swimming lessons, he got away from me for a few minutes and climbed up the 4-foot-high lifeguard tower. He sat right on top in the chair and said, "I'm the lifeguard swimmer!" I got him down before he got into trouble. In spite of anything we do, though, I think Andrew is bound to be the swimming type. Next year, when he is a three-year-old, he'll be able to have a class of his own.
Ricky hopped right in the pool on the first day. For the remainder of the day, all he could talk about was what he did at swimming lessons. I didn't find out until the next day when he refused to get into the pool that he was terrified. Ricky has an uncanny ability to talk himself into things. Many of you know that he does this when he is trying to eat something he doesn't like so that he can have dessert. He'll say, "Mmmm this is delicious, and then practically gag as he tries to swallow down his vegetables." Well, he had been talking up swimming lessons so that he would like them, and it didn't work.After two days of fighting him into the pool, the lifeguard suggested we bring him early and have him swim in the wading pool for 10 minutes before class. Well, it worked! By the end of the two weeks, he was a pro. In fact, on the last day of lessons, we were a little early. Ricky got right in the pool where his class meets and started swimming around like a crazy man. I was yelling for him to get out and sit on the side until class, but he was ignoring me. His teacher had to swim over and tell him to get out of the pool until class started.
I tried very hard to get pictures of everybody on the one day picture-taking was allowed (there are some weird rules here). I managed to get decent pictures of everybody but Makayla. She was the best at swimming lessons. She loved it and looked forward to it every day. After one week, she sprained her wrist and was told she shouldn't participate in swimming lessons the following week. Well, she took one day off, and couldn't stay out. She refused to tread water, though, so Ricky and her will be in the same level next time.
Emily, like Ricky, seemed to like swimming lessons on the first day. By day two, she had unequivocally stated that she would never go back. She said, "I hate it! It's too hard! My teacher is mean and doesn't help me with anything! I might drown!" Turns out, I might have had her in a level that was more difficult than her classes in Washington, and with one year off from lessons last year for the move, she was out of her element.
Well, we practiced at home and she persevered. By Day 4, she was a fan and loved her class. Her specialty this year is diving. Watch the video at the end.
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