This past month Ainsley has been taking swimming lessons. The night before her first lesson, we decided to go swimming as a family at our complex's pool to prepare her for her lesson. It was Sam's first time in a pool and he did really well. He cried for a minute but then loved it. He seemed a bit puzzled by the water, but was content and happy. Ainsley on the other hand was terrified. Both Tom and I tried to take her out into the water, but she would cling to us and cry the whole time. She didn't like floating by herself even while wearing a life jacket. She loved playing in the kiddie pool because it was shallow enough for her to walk around. The next night we took her to her swimming lessons and the community rec pool. Tom got in with her and I came to watch. It was a nightmare, she was the biggest kid in the class and she was the only one who cried. She clutched Tom and cried the entire time. He couldn't get her to do anything. When the lesson was over, we were a bit discouraged and nervous for the next five classes. But we talked to her, practiced in the bathtub, and bribed her with icecream...and it worked. Even by the next class, only two days later she did so much better. She's gone for three weeks now, and is absolutely loving it. She's made a huge improvement in such a short time. She is still not a fan of floating on her back because she doesn't like to get the water in her ears but she will do everything else. She can jump in the pool by herself, doggie paddle, kick, blow bubbles, stick her ears in the water, hold on to the wall and pull herself along, etc. We are sad that the lessons are already over and want to put her in a new class soon...hopefully this time by herself!
First few minutes in the pool, we had two screaming kids. We looked at each other and said, "What are we doing?" But by the end of the night, both of them were having fun
Ainsley's first swimming class, you can see the look of terror in her eyes...but don't worry after six sessions, she loved it and asks to go swimming everyday!
This past month Ainsley has been taking swimming lessons. The night before her first lesson, we decided to go swimming as a family at our complex's pool to prepare her for her lesson. It was Sam's first time in a pool and he did really well. He cried for a minute but then loved it. He seemed a bit puzzled by the water, but was content and happy. Ainsley on the other hand was terrified. Both Tom and I tried to take her out into the water, but she would cling to us and cry the whole time. She didn't like floating by herself even while wearing a life jacket. She loved playing in the kiddie pool because it was shallow enough for her to walk around. The next night we took her to her swimming lessons and the community rec pool. Tom got in with her and I came to watch. It was a nightmare, she was the biggest kid in the class and she was the only one who cried. She clutched Tom and cried the entire time. He couldn't get her to do anything. When the lesson was over, we were a bit discouraged and nervous for the next five classes. But we talked to her, practiced in the bathtub, and bribed her with icecream...and it worked. Even by the next class, only two days later she did so much better. She's gone for three weeks now, and is absolutely loving it. She's made a huge improvement in such a short time. She is still not a fan of floating on her back because she doesn't like to get the water in her ears but she will do everything else. She can jump in the pool by herself, doggie paddle, kick, blow bubbles, stick her ears in the water, hold on to the wall and pull herself along, etc. We are sad that the lessons are already over and want to put her in a new class soon...hopefully this time by herself!
First few minutes in the pool, we had two screaming kids. We looked at each other and said, "What are we doing?" But by the end of the night, both of them were having fun
Ainsley's first swimming class, you can see the look of terror in her eyes...but don't worry after six sessions, she loved it and asks to go swimming everyday!
1 comment:
I'm glad it was worth pushing through all the screaming. We look forward to swimming WITH you sooner than later!
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