Water Baby

When I was "little", probably six or seven, my aunt signed my cousin and I up for swimming lessons at the downtown Y. My aunt was determined to get me to learn how to swim since my mother never had. She didn't want me to end in the same boat, so to speak. I remember being completely terrified and distraught about the whole thing. I was scared to death to even put my face in the water. I don't recall much about the whole experience, other than spending at least a class or two hanging onto the edge of the pool crying while the instructor tried to get me to put my face in the water to blow bubbles. Eventually I did...but I only put my face in far enough to be able to blow the bubbles and not have to stick my nose under. I was such a wuss.

I don't recall for sure if that was my first attempt at swim lessons or my second. I assume it was my second attempt since my aunt insisted I go. I do remember going to the preschool I attended, Christ Child, and being signed up to take lessons there. All I remember is that they wanted me to jump off the diving board on the second half of the lesson, on the first day, and I refused. I was completely freaked out about that as well, and I'm pretty sure I did not do it and I'm pretty sure I never went back.

I eventually learned to swim. The third time is the charm, as they say. I was probably close to twelve though when I finally got the nerve to give it another go. This time at Norris Jr High. I remember doing a back float across the entire length of the pool as my mom and her friend watched and thinking that I finally knew how to swim. Granted the instructor pretty much held my head and swam with me the whole time, but I wasn't scared and so I came back again and finally stuck it out for the whole summer and passed the class. Again, don't remember if I took any more lessons after that, but I assume that I did since I know how to swim now; at least enough to save my life. :)

Yesterday Christian started swim lessons for the first time. I was debating on whether or not he was old enough to do this, but I have friends who have been taking their babies to swim class, so I figured I'd better get on the ball and sign them up. My original plan was to get both boys started in lessons at the Y, but when I found out that if you were younger than 3 you'd have to take a "mommy & me" type of class, I decided it would just be Christian this time around. Neither Scott nor I were thrilled with the thought of having to get in the water with Noah, let alone in a swimsuit in front of everyone. Noah can swim in the fall.

I really thought for sure that Christian would be as big as a wuss at this as me. He has been excited for swim lessons since I told him he'd be starting, and asked me every day if it was time to go to the swimming pool, but I thought for sure as soon as he got there he'd be scared to death of the water. Boy was I wrong.

Of course my kid was the one that wanted to just jump in on his own, and had to be constantly pulled back to the group. When the instructor was introducing herself to the kids and going over the rules, he was dancing around and paying attention to everything and everyone but her. When it was time to finally get in the water, he went it and tried swimming off on this own. He had to be dragged back to the group once again. But he had a ball! The kid has no fear, and for that I am glad. Hopefully these girls can keep him in their sites, because he needs to be watched like a hawk. :)