"There's No Crying in..." Swimming!

(Note:  You have to see "A League Of Their Own," to catch the blog title meaning. ;-)

Liam started swim lessons one month ago.  We decided to forego the totally unnecessary swimming classes we did with Ava at 10-months old, and wait until the lessons would have more "sticking power" for Liam  :)  I called the Atlanta Swim Academy, which is where Ava attended when she was 3/4.  We signed up for the Barnacles class with Miss Mandy, on Saturdays at 4:30 p.m.  And boy, did we talk up the swim lessons!  :)

The first week, he was gung-ho to jump into the water.  They had a pretty big backpack floatie on him the first week.  At the end of the class, they were able to go down the slide, splashing into the water.  (The slide is a Little Tikes plastic slide, about 2 1/2 feet tall, at most).  The first time Liam slid into the water, he came up with wide eyes.  It was so funny to watch.  The second time down the slide, he couldn't wait for his turn.  There are two other kids in his class (one boy, one girl).  The class finished up with them sliding down the slide that last time.  He ran over to us, we wrapped him in a towel, as he said "Mom, I blew bubbles!"  He was trying to tell us what he did underwater, to get to the top of the water.  All in all, he came away from the lesson excited, happy to have been swimming.  We video taped it, but don't have any still pictures. 

The second week class was canceled due to Labor Day weekend.

The third week / second lesson?  Yikes.  Coach Mandy put a smaller backpack float on him.  They did their routine warm-ups, kicking across the pool with a noodle arched in the water in front of them, then riding it like a seahorse.  Then it came time to attempt swimming.  Gulp.  Liam started crying in the water because he felt himself sinking as he swam (or didn't swim).  He couldn't seem to stay on top of the water enough to keep himself comfortable.  The teacher got onto him for crying.  He hung his head down as she held him, as if he had done something wrong.  She didn't give him further instruction, but just told him to stop crying.  I felt so bad for him! 

He saw other kids jump into the deep end and then swim across the pool (while wearing their back floaties).  He was so eager to jump in, he decided to do it before the teacher got to the deep end (12 feet).  When he jumped in, he didn't stay on top of the water, so he cried and turned back to swim for the wall.  The teacher again told him to stop crying.  He looked at her, as if for direction, but she didn't tell him what he should be doing.  At the end of the lesson, Liam walked over to us, not smiling.  Poor guy.  I felt like he was broken by the lesson that week.  :(  I felt bad, as if I didn't relay how much WORK swimming is!  Instead, we had focused on how fun swimming lessons can be.  We failed to mention that it really is hard work.  Note to self. 

Lesson #3:  On the way to the lesson, we really talked about how much work it is to stay on top of the water.  I told him that he needed "Hulk legs" to keep himself out of the water, and that he probably shouldn't cry, so he could focus on how strong his legs should be.  Doug walked him over to Coach Mandy and told him about Liam's experience last week, that Liam was looking to her for guidance, but that she didn't give Liam instructions.  I think she realized she needed to be a little easier on him.  He was apprehensive, but did well.  I think we can only go up from here.  :)  He used the noodle as a seahorse and is starting to figure out how to efficiently move water behind himself by paddling with his hands.  He doesn't kick consistently / fast enough, so I think he will just have to figure that part out for himself.  He did swim to Mandy, but didn't spend much time in the water floating on his own.  Baby steps.  He didn't want to jump into the deep end until Mandy reassured him that she would catch him.  He did fine then.  At the end of class, he eagerly climbed up the water slide after his first classmate slid down.  When he got to the top, he hesitated and shook his head "no."  We reassured him and then he slid down.  Mandy caught him without him going underwater entirely.  He slid down the second time and she caught him again.  She had him swim to the side of the pool without wearing his back floatie.  He did well.  After the lesson, he came out smiling.  I was glad to see his usual attitude win out over the intrepidation.  :)  So, hopefully he will add to his confidence level through experience and then be gung-ho, once again soon. 

Peace, love and good water ju-ju,
Shelly, Doug, Ava and Liam