they started off with many, many tears. lots of them. it took 2 and a half of the first 4 classes for them to turn off. tears quickly turned into defiance and manipulation, and it took everything within me to stay on the porch with the other parents so she couldn't see me!
but who can refuse a child a trip to the bathroom, whether it's out of avoidance or not. that is until you've taken her right before the class starts.
and that was it. there was no doubt in my mind that she didn't have to go. she knew she didn't have to go. and most importantly she realized there was nothing else she could manipulate about the situation and must have decided to make the best of it!
i was quite thankful, as i am sure were her teachers!
it's hard to know when to say no. when things move from legitimate fear of the unknown straight to defiance. and it's even harder to know when to put your foot down.
I signed Addie up for 2 weeks of 4 days each week of swimming lessons this summer. My goal? Not even for her to swim, but for her to be more comfortable in and around water.
And to respect it!
It started off with demands to hold a hand. And so Ms. Karen did.
but by the 2nd week, she was happily be-bopping her way up the diving board!
and stepping right off without holding a hand or even jumping to a hand!
and begging to jump off the side to her teachers! over and over and over.
i love the faces she makes as she jumps in!
the little girls even came with us one day...the hottest, muggiest, stickiest day! my lens kept fogging up!
now...the swimming was a completely different thing. her little bottom half is nothing but muscle and she just sank like a rock!
her teachers worked really hard with her to teach her to keep her legs up and kick, and she was very close by the end of the two weeks!
but it doesn't much matter to me whether she can swim or not. her confidence has skyrocketed! she loves to be in the water. and we ended the week with lots of smiles!
if you're on facebook, you've seen these. but here are two videos: the first from the first week and the second one from the second week.
