Parents ≠ Swim Instructors

The Atlanta Swim Academy had a spot open up in the "Flounders" class right after Liam's class concludes at 5:00 p.m. on Saturdays.  Although Ava knows how to swim, I thought she could definitely benefit from additional swimming classes.  I told her that I thought ANYONE other than Michael Phelps could benefit from knowing how to swim better.  She replied "But what about Ryan Lochte?" 

Knowing they could both use some time in the water, we decided to go to the South Cobb Aquatic Center on Friday night.  They have an indoor play area in the pool, a lazy river, a beach entry swim area that is fairly shallow, a 3 foot swim area, a three-story water slide, a diving board and a deep end!  All for the right price.  ($3.50 for kids, $4.50 for adults).  It is a good 30 minute drive to get there, but well worth it, I think.

Note:  These pictures are from the aquatic center's Web site.

We told the kids they would be practicing our swimming in the water before they could head over to the play area.  They agreed.  Both kids worked with us for 20 minutes or so, but were hesitant to our instruction.  Funny, Ava seems to be more open lately to my clothing / style suggestions (i.e. - "That doesn't really match.") and learning shortcuts, etc, but not to my swimming instructions.  She didn't want to put her face in the water and told me so.  I told her they were going to make her put her face in the water the following day, so I thought she might want to get used to it that night, instead of during swim lessons. 

Liam seemed more open to instruction.  They did have some serious fun afterward, climbing up the play structure and sliding down again and again.  We brought their pajamas to change into after showering, since we knew they would be toast on the way home.

Saturdays are pretty busy for us, currently.  Ava's gymnastics lesson is at 11 a.m.  We head home, have Liam take a nap, have Ava working on some homework or relaxing before we round up the troops for Liam's 4:30 p.m. swim lesson and Ava's 5:00 lesson, both at the Atlanta Swim Academy.  I want them to get the most out of the lessons, so we try to rest in between morning and evening lessons.

This past Saturday, Ava had her first lesson as a Flounder, with Coach Mandy.  Coach Mandy quickly assessed Ava's current swimming ability, to see if she needed a backpack floatie.  She didn't put a backpack floatie on Ava.  The other little boy in class looked older than Ava, but used a floatie for the first half of class. 

Ava swam very well.  Coach Mandy quickly saw that Ava needed to put her face in the water more, so the rest of her body could work more efficiently when swimming.  Ava took her instruction well.  Coach Mandy told Ava not to move her head from side to side, but to put her face in the water and come up to breathe.  Ava did just that.  Coach also noticed Ava coming up panting, so she told Ava she probably isn't breathing out all of her air while underwater.  Ava quickly started doing that and did less panting when she came up for air. 

Coach Mandy

Ava swam somewhere around five length of the pool without any floaties, noodles, etc!  All this from a girl who was SOOO scared to jump in at last year's first swim meet because she saw "8 FT" on the side of a pool... She was easily jumping into 12 feet of water during this lesson with Coach Mandy.  :)  Coach Mandy commented that Ava is ready to start "side breathing."  I was pretty impressed by that! 

I think it was really a good idea for us to enroll her in swim lessons again.  It helps that her lesson is right after Liam's, so we don't have to make two trips.  Doug commented that she is going to be seriously ready for swim team next June.  She came so far with her progress, all within a HALF HOUR of Coach Mandy's instruction.  We probably could've spent weeks going to the aquatic center, but wouldn't have seen progress like we've seen when Coach Mandy is instructing!

Peace, love and bubbles,
Shelly, Doug, Ava and Liam