Ok. . .so I didn't post much (if anything) about swim lessons, didn't take any pictures, and didn't push any of my preconceived notions onto my daughter. I wanted to put her in class and "just see how it goes."
Well. . .it went GREAT!!! She loved swim class!! She had a tough start for the first class with me handing a screaming child off to a very kind instructor who gave her a hug and helped her to calm down. The second week she cried and dug her feet in to prevent me from pulling her into the pool but I didn't have to hand her off, she cried as she walked over to the instructor who gave her a hug and helped her calm down. The third week - no tears, no fear, no problem and after that - no looking back. She even said that she likes "Mr. Gill" the only male instructor who previously brought her to tears.
To help with the "enjoyment" process, each week we went out for ice cream after class. Ms. Amy, Carrie, and Atlee helped us celebrate the first week to help show how proud everyone was of Cora for surviving swim class and the next week we went out alone and after that we just enjoyed ice cream at the house until she forgot that she was excited about ice cream and became excited about swim class.
To make me even more proud of her, not only did she survive swim class but she also "graduated" to the next level!!!
(Honestly, I have heard it isn't too hard to move along . . . none the less, I am still proud of her!!)
Swim class and gymnastics have been a good lesson for me to relax and try to allow my children to show me what they are and aren't ready for as well as just how hard to "push" them to participate. Dave also took Luke through swim lessons in the "Parent-Child" class. Luke is very shy but he came around a little bit towards the end as well. Starting next week both kids have gymnastics. Cora is continuing at the same gymnastics class and Luke is starting The Little Gym (the same one Cora did).
Luke has to wait until he turns 3 before he can join a swim class on his own so it won't be until summer time that he gets to have swim class again. Cora will continue with swim lessons as an "Eel."
. . . Not sure how much of the winter time we will keep her in lessons, may take a break for ski season ;-) :-) Will have to see what Winter brings us this year!!
2 comments:
Yay Cora!
Yay Cora!! Great Job Sweetie!!!! Huggs from Auntie