swimming lessons - Mik

Jan 21, 2012
Today was K's 2nd swim lesson. She finally put her head in the water. She was doing pretty well.
I've tried to get her to learn to swim so many times.
One summer when she was 7 years old, she had lessons at 10:00am in the rec center's outdoor pool. Summers in the peninsula are cold and the water was cold, she chattered and chattered. We quit after maybe 3 lessons because I started working again.
Summer of 2010 I may have tried again by bringing her to a neighborhood indoor pool that our neighbor raved about for her son's experience. K saw them throw a kid in the water. She refused to go to her class when they called her name. It probably didn't help that I gave her no notice that she was going to have lessons as I signed up that afternoon for classes that evening.
Spring 2011, thought about the Y and brought her for a tour. She wasn't very excited about the idea of swim lessons.
Nov 2011, brought her to a posher looking indoor pool. She had some self-motivation for finally learning - possible 5th grade end of year pool party.  (Can't believe she used to go into the pool at summer rec camp when she was 5 years old and didn't know how to swim. She may have went once then I convinced her to just do the non-pool option from then on).
Now she's actually relaxed, almost face floating and back floating. Usually she clings to us and won't relax. Probably doesn't help that I'm kind of yelling at her. Knew she needed a non-threatening environment and teacher. Whew. Hope she continues to progress.

I was so thrilled when I said today as we drove there that she should attempt to hold her breath and put her entire head in the water. I said when you feel the water move the hairs on the top of your head, that's how far down you need to go.

Then I watch this family of 4, the mom was trying to acclimate her must have been 2 month old in the water. that baby just cried and cried like a tiny newborn. I watch another couple with the what looks to be 6 mo old amerasian baby girl. She looks so fragile in the water. They don't dunk her but she doesn't look happy to be in the water. She looks around at all the parents sitting along the wall waiting for their kids.

K is pretty self conscious. She refuses to dress in the locker area after her shower. She insists on changing in one of the bathroom stalls. It's mostly women and babies in the locker area. who can blame her.