When I was a tiny baby my mom and dad enrolled me in swimming lessons at DU. While I don't remember these classes I have seen the photos and heard the stories. These swimming lessons continued through most of my childhood. While I'm no Amy Van Dyken, I am an able swimmer who can safely enjoy a pool and the beach.
Now Robert is another story. He can't swim. I know what you're thinking, take some lessons. He's tried. But he just can't do. One time I made him prove this to me. We were in a hotel pool in Portland. It was only five feet deep. He began to tread water, and I saw that he knew how to do it correctly, but it just didn't work. He sinks. Apparently this is due to some bone density issue. So hopefuly Emerson won't have dense, arthritic bones....
With all this in mind we decided to enroll Emerson in swimming lessons. Our lessons began three weeks ago at the local recreation center. It's a mommy, daddy and me class and is only a half an hour each Saturday morning. It's not a very structured class, mostly the idea is just to get the little ones used to the water. We usually start every class walking around in the water encouraging Emerson to splash and kick. We've tried to get him to blow bubbles a couple of times. This usually results in him drinking water and then coughing it back up. Later the instructor usually get some toys out for the babies to play with. Emerson's favorite is the big plastic Nemo fish.
So far the classes are going well. Each week Emerson is more comfortable in the water and enjoys himself more. He LOVES to splash and it makes him giggle. He also likes when we do scoops - lift him into the air and bring him back down into the water. This session is only 5 weeks long but we plan to enroll him in the next session. It can't hurt to get him comfortable around water. And who knows, we could have the next Michael Phelps on our hands.....or maybe not.
1st class: Emerson meet the water, water meet Emerson
I love splashing! (And getting Daddy wet!)
Not a fan of the back float
Surfs up in my cool board shorts!
2 comments:
I like to think that the last picture is Emerson swimming and Robert hanging on for dear life.
I have tried teaching rrobert t swim when e were growing up and yes, he just sinks. Hopefully E has a bit more luck in the water
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