The title says it all folks. I’ve enrolled us (gotta love parent participation 😐😟😒) in swim lessons. Parker is 5 and we’ve been meaning to sign her up last yr but, life 🙆🏼 so we’re finally doing it! And figured why not do classes for Marley too. She turn’s 2 in July, and “they say” the earlier, the better, right?!
Right 👌🏼(let’s get it straight before people say they love/hate parent participation classes 🙋🏼this ain’t my first rodeo. I have done yearsss of parent participation classes 😂Marley and I even do a parent participation gymnastics class on Tuesdays right now, while P is in her big girl class 😊But swimming sucks because I have to shave, wear a bathing suit, get in the water (not that I hate water but it’s been way cooler than usual in Roseville, CA and its cold in the dang pool!), and then encourage my child 👏🏼 that is cold 👏🏼 as well 👏🏼 lol. So it’s just sometimes rough😳, but fun at times😎, and actually really rad to see the growth, and experience it so closely with them. But girrrrrrl 😶shits cold, shaving sucks, and it was every day last week 😐3 more classes left! 🙌🏼I’m done!
My sweet Parker girl has never loved getting her eyes wet (even closed, I mean of course eyes are closed in water lol, but I’m just saying water on the eyes in any way, is torture to this kid😳), getting splashed in a pool, splash pads are a forbidden for her🚫, and she will bawl her eyes out when any of these events happens😭. Life 🙆🏼🙈yay. So when daddy and I mentioned we’re starting lessons.. and then the actual day comes and we start lessons 😟😬
The girl was devastated. A complete, terrified, wreck. And I am a total sap for fear. And something really frightening you. And getting past it. And my husband and I are all for not emotionally damaging our child🙌🏼. We related. We explained. We showed examples. Heck, I even scheduled the classes to where Parker watches Marley and I go first. And then we watch big sister when we’re done!
That first day was the hardest.
Marley was so/so the first day. It was SO hot! So she had no problem just getting acquainted with the water. But when it came time to try to blow bubbles in the water.. she was not a fan. But with a few distractions has always come around in class and ends up enjoying it. No worries🙈, mama is just dealing with emotions left and right from these girls, it just takes time for them to come around 😬👏🏼🙌🏼
Today was day 5 (it’s felt like we’ve been doing this for a month now lol). And BOTH🙌🏼. GIRLS🙌🏼. Not only got through the class with no tears, but made leaps and bounds! 🏊🏼🙌🏼
We may have told P after that first rough day, that if she could be brave and get her face wet without any tears, she could pick out a small toy🙆🏼.. a little something to give her the drive to actually want to try (instead of crying and being a complete wreck every time her face got wet😳😭) so she can get a toy🙆🏼. And ever since we made that negotiation
She has been a complete champ!
No shame. I don’t consider that bribing. I consider that facing her fear, and rewarding her for succeeding at it!
And ever since getting her face in the water, and overcoming that huge step, she really likes swim lessons (hallelujah!🙌🏼)! And now we have a 2 day break over the weekend and she’s ready for more! I told her we still luckily have 3 more classes next week, and are you ready for it?! She said: “that’s it?! I want to swim every day like we’ve been doing!” So.. I might sign her up again?! 🙆🏼we’ll see if it works out to get another 2 weeks in before our camping trip in August☺️But Marley and I.. I think we’ll stick to just this round of classes for the summer 🙅🏼
I just love that my husband and I are so sensitive to their little soles. And so on the same page in life. I think it’s really important to talk about feelings so that we’re able to feel strong and confident in hard/unknown situations and know that you’re feelings matter. We’re here to guide you. You can always talk to us. And if you’re ever uncomfortable with something please let us know. But swimming is something almost everyone does. And I promise you, you want in on swimming fun for the rest of your life with confidence that you wont drown. Point blank 🙆🏼
I feel like I’m ranting on now and should let you go lol
So! I hope you all are having a great summer! And to sum up this post…
I’m almost positive my kids enjoy water now. Bath time is now shower time 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼🙌🏼 I’ve reached a new milestone and baths are only at will now lol P has been able to shower now for a while and Marley LOVES showers now.
Our water journey shall continue!
How is your summer going?! Can anyone relate to going to swim lessons with your kiddos? Did they hate water? How do you overcome hard situations with your children? Let’s chat about it! I’d love to hear from ya’all!😊
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