Two weeks ago my little head strong peanut said to me, “I don’t care what my teacher says, I’m not going to put my head under the water.” This is how our session of swimming lessons started. Violette would be in the youngest class (Seahorse), Max one step up from her (Otters), and Noelle up one more step (Starfish). So three kids in three different classes. They all were excited, as Bohn pool is an awesome venue for lessons. Despite Violette’s declaration I knew she would have a good time. It was still up in the air if she was actually going to put her head under.
The heat was unbearable during these past two weeks. With a forecasted temperature of over 100 a few days, I dreaded getting up and going, but we did. The children always got out of the pool chilled, unable to dress themselves due to shivering (dude, it was 100 degrees and my kids would be wearing sweatshirts when leaving the pool!!) so these were a lot of work for me. Zane wanted to go swimming with his siblings SO bad. I chased him around, fed him food and tried to keep him entertained will keeping my eye on the three classes spread out around the pool. It was tiring. I loved how the session was Monday thru Friday for two weeks, but by day three I was ready for them to be over!
On the third day Little Miss Stubborn was fully submerging her body in class and at home in our little pool. She was very proud of herself, begging me to watch her, at home, over and over again. Go Violette! She perfected jumping off the side of the pool and will move onto the next class, Otters, when we do lessons again.
In our pool at home Max was going under very well and trying to swim. After a few weeks of instruction he was swimming for long distances on his own! I would look up and seek his green goggles only to find a little boy swimming so well. I would ask other parents if that was really my son out there! To be honest I figured he would be in the Otter class for at least two sessions of lessons. I had no idea he would excel as much as he did. On the last day of class he had an opportunity to go down the big water slide, something he had been talking about since day one. He had no problem, without hesitation, going on then swimming over to the nearby ladder. I watched him believing he was four and a half, almost five years old, of all brave and strong boy!
Noelle continued to improve on her front and back stroke. Her class was a little hidden from my view and I was only able to get a few moments of her lessons per day. She glided through the water very well and upon exiting the pool always had a big smile on her face. The last day she, too, went down the big slide. Having done it last year too, she had no fear. Her class was small and she went down multiple times. Each entry at the top of the slide had me anxiously waiting for her to pop out at the bottom. No matter the age I’m still going to be nervous for my babies!
We’ll take a two week break, then attend the last week session offered. I love watching their excitement and improvement for and in the water.
At home we continue to enjoy being outside as much as possible. Noelle and Violette have turned into very bronzed children, shocking Tom and I when they get undressed. Thankfully they have their Daddy’s skin and none of them have suffered any sunburns. The boys, if possible, have turned even blonder. Zane’s fine hair is basically white and he gets these rosy cheeks after being out in the sun. He loves any time he can get in the little pool, saying “swimming wit dada!” whenever he wants in. Our days are enjoyable, albeit long. I see the end of July in sight and I know the end of summer is rounding the corner so I should enjoy these days before chaos of the school year begins!
