Day Two Thousand and Two

The First Swim

 

"You ready or what, Mother? I got a lesson to get to! Hustle up!"

 

Our little lady was perfectly happy and excited to go swimming with Miss Gina yesterday, that was, until she discovered that this type of "swimming" is nothing like anything she's ever experienced before. And boy was she one unhappy girl. Once it saves her life though, she'll thank me for the tears. We enrolled her into a specific swim instruction course called ISR. It's a very rigorous and consistent program that - once completed - will teach your child how to survive if they fall into a body of water. Five days a week for 10 minutes each day, and over the course of 6 weeks, these little babes are taught how to "swim, float, swim," until they reach the side of the pool or a place of safety. At the end of the course, the instructor actually has their students fall into the pool with all their winter clothes on and has them successfully get to safety, which commences their graduation from the course. Every day, you're required to chart everything your child eats, their urine and bowel movements, and their sleep schedule in order to make sure the child is functioning normally. Ten minutes may not seem like a lot of time in the pool, but from what I've seen over the past two days now, it's a non-stop ten minute session that absolutely wears the child out - especially one that's crying the whole time. We know that in the next week or so, Amelia will warm up to her lessons, but for now, it's hard for me to watch her upset. We've never ever let her "cry it out," but this is different and that's something I remind myself the entire duration she's in the water; she can see me the whole time, I'm cheering her on at every praiseworthy moment, and she's learning how to save her life under all too common circumstances here in Florida. We're hoping that she nails this down in a five week course - rather than six (due to the baby and the move and all that basebally stuff) - but we'll see what happens. So far, she's done great though, even between all the tearful gasps and "I no like that one, Mommy," protests. Love you so so much, Amelia. And we're only doing this because we love you and want to protect you!! Promise!