Swim Lessons

TWAPilot and I decided to have the kids take swim lessons inside this year as June in central Virginia is not always hot enough to keep the kids interested in morning swim lessons. Today 15 mintues after the cheerleading for my girls and just a scant 5 minutes after karate for TWA's boys were swim lessons in the warm water therapy pool.

Nicely, our four were together with the same instructor. Larien isn't at the same level with Inwe when it comes to swimming, but they were when I signed them up. The isntructor says he can handle the different abilities just fine (and it looked like he could). Another positive of these four being together is how well they know each other and get along. Inwe, Cirdan, and Findarato have been playing together since they were about a year. Larien has been around these three since she was born. This closeness means that they challenge each other naturally and non-competively.

Findarato and Inwe use each other as guides as to what is possible. In some cases this is good, like going completely under the water and enthusiastic jumping into the pool. There are bad examples: Inwe knows how to jump in the pool, kick up to the surface, and turn to find the edge of the pool. It is a skill that I have insisted that the girls know how to do. Findarato, however, did not have this skill, but jumped in anyway while the instructor was working with Larien. All turned out okay, but Findarato learned a valuable lesson.

Cirdan, being small for his age, looks to Larien for clues. I've written about how fearless she can be, so Cirdan did really well. He gets so excited when he can do something--like kick his legs correctly. Larien also performed well today. I know she does well in the mommy/kid classes; I was simply worried about how she would do waiting her turn and all that--patience isn't her virtue. (Wonder where that came from?) Of course, she didn't want to get out of the pool. It really isn't easy to tote a 25 pound baby on one side while toting a struggling 30 pounder on the other side.

Even with the less than perfect ending, I truly enjoy seeing my children so excited about something. Both of them love the water.