Swim Lesson

I signed up Ivan for swim lessons. Our first lesson was last Saturday at Maryland. Since the indoor pool was undergoing some serious cleaning, the first lesson was scheduled at the outside pool. This probably sounded like a swell idea when they were preparing the schedule. However, last week the weather turned cold.

(It was actually kind of perfect timing. Labor Day weekend Sunday, the weather was perfect and we went to the beach. More on that later. But Monday turned cold and rainy. As if on cue, it signalled the unofficial end of summer and the beginning of another year--school year, professional year, fall, etc.)

So the Saturday in question was cloudy. The temperature barely rose to 64 degrees by 9:30 a.m. when the lesson started. Luckily, the pool was nicely heated to a comfortable 83 degrees.

Based on Ivan and Andy's previous pool excursions and his delight at being at the beach the weekend before, I hoped he'll love the swim lesson, but I wasn't sure.

There were several classes taking place simultaneously--parent and tot (our class), three year-olds, four year-olds, etc. swim lessons.

Our tot class had some 8 parent-tot couples.

Instructors wanted the kids to walk into the pool themselves, instead of being carried. Ivan, of course, refused. He insisted I "dingut, dingut," him. Our instructor came to help to lure him into the pool, but he basically shooed her off. So I releted and carried him in.

Once in the pool, he loved it. We had a wonderful time. He was beaming with joy. The instructor had us do all sort of get your-kid-accustomed-to-the-water games. They included the wheels on the bus, where we walked in circle spashing water around, lifting the child up and down in the water, etc. We also played Humpy Dumpy Sat, where we sat the child on the pool edge and then let him fall back into the water int our arms. We also got little watering buckets to dump water on the child, or let the child dump the water on the parent. Then the instructor gave us foam letter to throw in front of us in the water and have the child reach for them. This idea was swell, except that all kids, including Ivan, held tight onto those letter and would let them go. "Mine, mine."

Then everyone started getting cold. Being in the water was a bit less fun. So after half an hour, the lesson ended. But we had a great time. I can't wait to take him back on Saturday.

I, however, felt like a humongous duck. My bathing suit, which fit OK the week before, was suddenly snug. I felt like boobs were flying everywhere and the tankini top kept riding up my belly. At first I was self-conscious but then I hoped that no one really cared nor paid attention to me. Everyone was engrossed in their own kid.

My parents came along for the lesson as Andy was working. I was glad they came. They also had a blast watching Ivan enjoy himself so much in the pool.