Swim Lessons

It seemed the easiest thing in the world—once the outdoor pool season was over, enroll both kids in swim lessons for the fall and winter, so that by the time Baby arrives, next summer the other two will be well on their way toward safety in the pool. They love the bathtub, they adore the pool. What could be more enjoyable a fall activity?

 

Day One worked out pretty well. Alex was a little nervous about being asked to get his face wet. Julianna got stiff and resisted, whining and complaining, but for a first time it was fine.

 

Day Two, Alex got overconfident and jumped into his instructor’s arms before she was ready for him, and went under the water. Twice. Julianna was not feeling well and spent the entire lesson holding onto me with a death grip…and when I say death grip, I mean that I nearly had to break her fingers to get her to let go of me so I could put her in the various positions I was supposed to be working with her. By the end of the lesson, I’d given up and had Julianna asleep on my lap at the edge, and Alex was flinging himself out of the pool on his stomach beside me, such that the instructor had to ask me to put him forcibly back in the water so he learned who was boss (here’s a hint: not him!).

 

We had a long talk at home, and he sniffed and accepted that Daddy and I wanted him to learn to swim. But this morning the wailing began before we even got in the water. Day Three, Julianna fussed and complained and whined, but she relaxed two or three times, which I thought was a hopeful sign. The other two children in her class are doing great, and the instructor wanted us to put them on kickboards, push them through the water (underwater) toward each other, have them jump off the edge. I had to put my foot down and say, “That’s fine, but my daughter just isn’t there.” (I was told when Julianna was born that I would need to be an advocate for her…never expected it in swim lessons!)

 

Alex, however, met my gaze every time I glanced his way with a tragic expression of betrayal that I was forcing him to work with That Mean Lady (who is fairly no-nonsense, and I can see a kid thinking she’s mean, but as a parent I like what I see).

 

I’ve come to accept that I have to placate them with some sort of treat after swim lessons. The other day Alex got an extra movie. Today we went to DQ.

 

And here I thought that swim lessons would be their own reward.

 

Sigh.