Swimming Lessons

The very words put fear into my heart.  Honestly.  I HATED swimming lessons.  My best friend was a lifeguard and as comfortable in the water as a fish.  But I never became a very good swimmer.  I always trusted her to fish me out if need be, so I sometimes braved deeper water than I probably should have.  So my swimming - yes, I can swim a little - is not the result of swimming lessons but of my husband and friends trying to coach me a little here and there.

But I have tried hard not to let my kids know my lack of love for the water because I don't want them to be fearful.  Cautious, yes.  Fearful, no.

So they - finally - are enrolled in swimming lessons at our local community center.  Thankfully, they are in the same class, and there is only one other boy in the class with them.  They have gotten a lot of individual attention from their instructor who is a former competitive swimmer, he seems to think that by the end of this week, they could actually be swimming. 

That would be GREAT!  I just want them to be comfortable in the water and to be safe.


Here Luke is practicing kicking and blowing bubbles.

Here he is working on learning to float.  They're both struggling to relax in the water which would make floating much easier.  

I had to share this picture of Cade...it cracks me up because he looks like he's constantly gasping for air.

And one of the biggest struggles they've had it staying warm.  The pool area is warm and humid, but the water isn't overly warm.  They sit with chattering teeth while waiting their turns.  

Here the instructor was dipping Cade in and out to try to warm him up.