the wild, wild webbs: Swim Lessons!

Most would think that a blog about swim lessons would be short and easy. Not so for this blog and for this swim lesson. There is story that leads to this somewhat productive day.

Last summer, at any pool, Kendall hung out on the steps mostly, but loved to jump off the side and to be carried thru the water, on her belly, kicking like a dolphin. Cooper, on the other hand, swam like a fish. However, all of this "swimming" was done with a life jacket on. I knew before I even purchased the jacket that it was a bad idea. I know the cons to this scenerio. However, our dear friends and neighbors had just finished their pool. Chip was often at work while we were there so I had to come up with a way to survive the summer. I knew I would enroll Coop in swim lessons this winter in hopes to shed the jacket for the '09 summer season.

Kendall is a different story. Some of you may know she has recently begun having bath "issues." We've seen the doctor a few times, talked at great length with our pediatrician/good friend about the what's, where's, how's and why's of this issue she has started having. Kendall hates the bath. Won't get in without a diaper on. It's weird. And been going on for well over a month now. So, I was not confident that 2009 would be the year Kendall started swimming lessons.

We have cancelled swim lessons twice before this week for various reasons. Cooper even stayed home from school today. I think he's a little over-tired and needed to rest. So we rested. Cooper took the first nap in about 3 weeks this afternoon and we were looking forward to the swim lesson today at 5. Cooper awoke from his nap proclaiming "I want to swim Mommy!" I was SO excited.

Then. It happened. He asked for his life jacket. Something else happened. I told him we didn't have it anymore (a lie). This turned Mr. Happy into Mr. Screaming Mad in about .3 seconds. Mimi came to get me after getting Kendall from school for me and something made me grab a swim diaper for Kendall before we left the house even though she refuses to wear them at home anymore. Cooper was still crying when we arrived at the pool.

It's amazing how your greatest plans can change in an instant. Cooper refused to even look at Miss Cassie, the instructor. Kendall, long story short, ended up in a swim diaper, jumping off the side, swimming 'on' her belly, kicking like crazy and impressing Miss Cassie all the while. Cooper eventually swam with Miss Cassie a few times, kicking and screaming at first and then laughing on the ride back to the steps. All in all, it was a successful 30 minutes. Not exactly how I imagined it, but then again, nothing since 2005 really ever is anyway!