Swim Lessons // What We Both Learned

Before summer began, and we were spending more and more time in the pool, I knew I wanted needed to get Marcus into swim lessons. The child has no fear of the water, which is good and bad, all rolled into one. It's great the kid has no fear of water, but I also want him to respect water, and the dangerous that can be present if he isn't careful/smart/attentive.

So, before we began our tour of the Midwest I called the swimming pool where I'd taken lessons as a child, and where I later taught swim lessons as an instructor, and had Marcus enrolled in a parent/infant/toddler class. 

One of the instructors (whom I've known for years) saw this video on social media of Marcus swimming, and bumped Marcus into the preschool class. While I was excited Marcus' skills exceeded that of the class I'd enrolled him in, I was worried about the age gap. Most kids in the preschool class were either 3 or 4. Marcus is 2. A year, or two, makes a big difference. 

Day one went swimmingly, and looked something like this.

Marcus did great. He followed most instructions, did what was asked of him, and seemed to have a great time. As we left the pool that day I asked if he had a good time. His response was an enthusiastic "Yes!" 

Day two was similar, looking like this.

Another successful day of following instructions, performing required tasks, and enjoying himself. 

Then day three hit. 

Marcus refused to get in the water. He cried, and asked for me to join him. It was an awful mess. About 15 minutes into class, and a child hysteric about not getting in the water, we left. 

Day four went exactly like day three. 

I asked the instructor if we could try the class I had originally signed Marcus up for - the class where I joined him in the water. And, so that's what we tried.

It was like night and day. Marcus was back to being the fish I knew he was, the fish that he showed on days one and two of lessons. 

After the class the instructor pulled me aside and said Marcus needed to be in the preschool class, and that he needed to try again. Except, this time we needed to try without me being present. 

*Light bulb moment*

As an instructor I often told parents to try lessons where the kids couldn't see the parents. It was almost always inevitable the child would do better if the parent wasn't around (or couldn't be seen). Why had I not thought of this right away?! Because, like every other parent in the world, I wanted to watch my child, I wanted to see how he did. I wanted to coach from the side (which sadly, I admit happened a few times). 

On the last day Grandma brought Marcus to lessons, and I stayed behind. Then, I ran up to the pool (because the town is that small and you can literally run from place to place) and hid in a spot where Marcus couldn't see me. 

When I got to the pool I saw this.

I was so far away that I had to zoom in as much as possible, with my phone, so the images are pretty blurry. 

Marcus did so well. I couldn't help but burst with pride. 

While Marcus didn't "pass" his class, and I knew he wouldn't, we both learned a lot from the two week course: I need to stop semi-hoovering, and Marcus has discovered that he can do well and thrive without mommy present. And, there were basic swim skills learned. 

Winning all around.  

Big thanks to the Aquatic Center for identifying our needs and presenting options to remedy our problems for successful swim lessons.