Learning to Swim, But I Ain't Got Flippers

I'm far away from the event to write about it, but on the day the event happened I summoned every molecule in my body to remain calm. How I managed is a mystery.

Our neighborhood pool is wonderful. Even on the hottest days during the week, there aren't many people in it. We all come at different times. Sure, Friday nights, weekends can be full, but even that allows for more socializing and playmates for the kids. Last week, we swam with just one other family, a mom with her two daughters. Phill met me and swam with the girls as I splashed with Finwe, floating along with water wings.

The boy reached his limit of swimming and asked to play on the swings and slide. I agreed and left to get his change of clothes. Finwe requested to wait on the side of the pool. Sure, I answered, thinking he would remain on the top step. My first two mistakes, trusting the word of a two-year-old and taking the water wings off while he sat on the step. Let me remind you that Finwe's dad was in the pool, not a few feet away from the steps dealing with the zealous, loud Larien. (Inwe doesn't need our help with any swimming, only for indicating that she is drop-dead tired.)

I leave the step, walk the short distance to the bag of clothes, and return. To get back to the steps of the pool, I have to walk twenty feet under a cabana. At the edge of the cabana, Finwe kicked nicely on the step making small splashes. I looked down to avoid an errant toy. When my gaze returned to the pool, Finwe no longer sat on the step.

Instead, three or four feet from the step his body bobbed in the water, his neck bent backwards to keep his mouth above the liquid. Finwe made no sounds. His kicks took all his energy. I screamed at Phill to get him. The other mom realized what was happening and grabbed Finwe to her hip, saving him. I'd leaped into the pool already and gathered him to me. Breathing deeply, I soothed his worries.

Both Phill and Anne, the other mom, couldn't believe that Finwe had gotten in the water without them noticing. I hadn't heard a splash. Although I watched him all but a few seconds (honest), I didn't see him go in the water.

The entire time that I soothed his tears, I remained calm. My heart beat a different rhythm, though. No, he wasn't close to drowning, but knowing that and seeing your non-swimming child in the water by himself are two different beasts.

Later, much later, I asked Finwe if he fell in or if he chose to jump in the water. He chose his words carefully.

"I jumped in. Yeah. I wanted to swim by myself. I couldn't swim. I kicked, and someone else saved me."

We discussed that he wasn't ready to swim by himself, but that we would work on it during the summer. He promised that he wouldn't do it again.

Trusting the word of a two-year-old, my boy? Not a mistake I will make again.

Hanging on for Dear Life

Since Seth, the swim instructor, instructed me to keep Larien out of the floatie suit I have followed his instructions. (There are a few too many forms of the word instruct.) She has done well, although I have nixed the largest pool as I don't think I could handle all three when I am by my lonesome.

We began the second week of swim lessons today. By now, Larien can recite what she must do to earn a lollipop. Her voice, dripping with syrup, states clearly (with a slight slur, she is her father's child), "I will participate fully in my swim lesson." If I could only get her to remember and act upon the second instruction: I will not hang on Seth. She's not grasped this yet.

However, I did see her take a ride on Seth while he was helping another girl kick properly. Set pulled the two girls approximately five yards from the steps. When he turned to make the return trip, Larien released her hold and swam freestyle back to the wall and steps. She shouldn't have been hanging on Seth, but if she hadn't been, would she have made the dash to the wall?

I'm Learning to Swim, But I Ain't Got Floats

Because for my children it is not optional to learn how to swim, the girls are taking another round of swim lessons this year. We meet at the pool each day at 5pm. It's hot, but at least we aren't baking in the midday sun.

Inwe had it easy. Her instructor is a young woman, and all her classmates are girls. Inwe isn't learning how to swim. Instead, she is perfecting her strokes and kicks to become a better swimmer. Yesterday was the first time she was introduced to treading water. Her best time was 18 seconds. Not so great for us adults, but wonderful for a kid who hasn't ever heard of treading.

Larien began her lessons on Monday with the emphatic proclamation, "I'm afraid of boys," when she realized that her instructor was a young man. Seth did pretty well with Larien at her most difficult public behavior. That day she did her own thing, but did at least jump into the water when asked.

The big production was saved for me. Inwe got a lollipop for her good behavior and full participation in swim class. Larien did not. In case you didn't know, Larien can whine and cry. Oh, can she!

Tuesday, Larien realized that she would have to listen to Seth to get a lollipop. While she barely looked at him on Monday, this day she wouldn't let go of him. I'm surprised his shorts didn't slip off his body. She behaved wonderfully well on Wednesday as well.

Today's lessons were cancelled because of a thunder storm. We'll try tomorrow.

The part about the floats is due to the fact that I bring all three children to the pool without the help of another adult. Inwe is fine if she's in the pool with the slides. The largest pool is more of a challenge as Inwe gets tired and wants to grab for me. Picture this: I'm supporting Finwe with one arm as he hangs on an inflated swim ring; Larien has a noodle but still hangs on my free arm. If Inwe needs me, I must let go of one of the other kids. It's not going to be Finwe. Larien wears a suit with pockets for inflatable pads. Seth says that Larien can swim, but that she is convinced that she can't because she's not floating as high without the suit. I am to wean her off of the floats.

Egads!

Showing Off Her Skills

On Saturday, Phill and I hosted a party for some friends who moved out of the area. They were back in town for a few days giving us a reason to ask others to the house. It was a kid-friendly party like my parents used to have in their backyard. My girls set up the kids' table in the sunroom, complete with place cards (not kidding). Where they got that idea, I don't know. I've not ever done place cards for any of our dinner parties. Maybe it is innate?

As the food disappeared, the kids did more and more outside activities. The weather could not have been better. The sun filtered through cotton ball-shaped clouds. A slight breezed cooled the air. Even the mosquitoes left us alone.

Inwe decided to display her newly acquired tennis skills. On Friday, she garnered individual attention from one of the three coaches as her hitting was spotty and tentative. The coach, whose name Inwe can't remember, had her begin in a backhand position turning while the ball traveled towards her. That little bit of instruction allowed her enough movement that she no longer wasted time bringing the racket back for a forward swing. As you can see from the picture above, she is now forceful with her swing. One of our party guests was the one bouncing the ball for her.
Idril and Finwe played the part of spectators, using the garage door as a back rest. Why is Finwe running around in only a diaper? His hands, face, legs, and clothes were covered in melted chocolate and ice cream from a chocolate coated ice cream bar. Once I removed the disgusting clothes and dipped him in the pool for cleaning, getting a diaper on him was all I could manage. He really didn't want any other clothing. At least I put on a diaper. That wasn't an easy task.

She just keeps trying

Today was the first day of tennis lessons for Inwe. She has asked for lessons all year. I delayed until the summer so that I wouldn't be stretched too thin in the spring. I got myself tied into knots with everything as it was.

Inwe's strength is her mind. Physical prowess is not her domain, but she is at the age where she doesn't notice that other kids are better than she is. Phill did a bit of practicing with her last night, but he bought her a racket that was too long with a handle that was too large. Should I have gone with her to buy the racket? Yes, but it was a daddy/daughter thing. Phill might have three degrees, but that doesn't mean he pays attention to the size of a tennis racket for a little girl.

With a borrowed smaller racket, she did just fine today. Is she good at hitting the ball? Not at all. I think she got it over the net once. When she was taught to hit right in front of her face (for a non-bouncing shot that can be seen in doubles), she did a good job at getting it over the net.

Towards the end of the lesson the kids played a game of snake, which is a way of working on foot work and movement. Inwe told me she enjoyed herself and had fun. She was sweaty, thirsty, and hungry. If this week goes well, I'll sign her up for most of the summer. It's just $20 per week.

Outside for Play

I'm not sure why I'm not writing more about the children lately. I would say it is because not much different is happening, but that wouldn't be true. Finwe has discovered words, real words, make life easier. He tries every sound. Inwe quizzes him in the van as we drive to and fro.

Oh, yes, that's his new decision: he must sit in the back row of seats with Inwe. Larien now has the coveted spot behind the driver's seat. Occasionally, Finwe changes his mind. Larien, amazingly, is sanguine about this and crawls into the seat with the yellow flower cover instead of the seat with the tan paw prints.

Probably the biggest change is that Phill and I purchased a swing set. Being rather frugal in big purchases, we chose a metal and plastic version instead of the wooden beam structure, which can reach up to a $1000. We have such better ways to spend $1000. $149, plus tax and shipping sounded so much better.

Honestly, the children love the swing set with attached slide and, if we ever get it built, teeter totter. There are three swings and one two seat glider. That makes space for our three plus the MaddJones kids, who have used it since we put most of it up on Tuesday. It isn't anchored. It isn't finished, but at least it is.

Fruit Salad, Yummy Yummy

At swim lessons today I had to bribe Larien so that she would jump into the pool. It is inexplicable why the bribing was necessary. Usually, I cannot keep Larien from jumping into the water.

The bribe was that I would buy her a treat (edible) at the cafe at the gym (which is really a country club without the golf course). Inwe asked for a treat as well as she jumped into the pool many times and without any prodding. Sure, I agreed.

Once they were dry and dressed, we headed to the cafe. What did they choose for their treats?

Inwe: Apple juice and a navel orange.

Larien: Fruit Salad (watermelon, cantaloupe, grapes, and strawberries) and apple juice.

Could I be more proud that they passed up the chips and muffins and what not? So, very very cool. I'm gloating.

Without Regret

Today, Inwe said goodbye to her gymnastics teachers. She is through with the weekly lessons.

It is difficult as a parent (well, for me) to watch as your child makes a decision like this at the very young age of five. There is a lot of second guessing going on in my head. Am I allowing her to quit too early? Have I been supportive enough? Am I letting her make the best decision or will she hate me later when she wants to be a cheerleader but cannot because she inherited her father's inflexibility along with his brain?

Clearly, she inherited self-awareness from me. When I was a junior I quit playing varsity basketball at the end of the season because I wasn't getting better and I felt that I didn't have anything but stellar grades to give to the team. That decision was incredibly difficult. I didn't tell my father for weeks. Perhaps it was my experience with that which allowed me to open up to Inwe's suppressed frustration surrounding gymnastics.

She's asked to take tennis lessons this summer, and I'm going to let her. The gym, which is really a country club sans golf course, has weekly lessons just for little ones her age. I hope she enjoys it. I'm sure she'll tell me if she doesn't.

Friday Night Swims

I decided to be a crazy parent again and tackle the feat of taking all three children swimming at the indoor pool without assistance. Why I do this to myself I don't know. I like to attempt to be a supermom? Perhaps. But, let's not psychoanalyze me.

The evening was really successful. After school, we packed our swim bag and headed to the gym. Inwe remembered how to swim immediately and was duck diving for the toy she brought in a short time. Her biggest fear was leaving the pool to get a pair of goggles from the bucket near the male lifeguards. Her three year old sister went for her. (This so reminds me of what my sister would do when we were younger. I was dispatched on many errands for my sister.)

Larien was wearing the float filled watermelon suit that I bought two years ago for Inwe. With the confidence of the suit, she puts her head in the water and attempts to swim the crawl. Once she was tired of that she resorted to her favorite pool past time--big jumps into the water. Normally, this isn't a problem, but there were many other moms in this warm pool with their children. She did well. No one informed me that she landed on top of their child. And, surely, a parent would say something to me if she had done that. Right?

Why wouldn't I know if Larien had jumped on top of someone? Because I was holding the behemoth of a 16 month old known as Finwe. He wanted to throw a toy and reach for it. He wanted me to go up and down. He insisted on doing his own version of a jump into the pool by sitting on the edge and falling into my arms. When he spied Inwe and Larien holding onto swim noodles, he pointed emphatically to the ones on the side of the pool. Somehow he hung onto one of those for quite some time.

We were only in the pool for 50 minutes. I was meeting Phill at 6pm to get my own exercise while the children had a pre-dinner in the kidzone at the gym. By the time I had all the kids dressed and moderately dried while talking to another woman, I was exhausted and could have cared less about lifting weights and doing cardiac exercise.

C'mon! I had already lifted a 28 pound weight numerous times while simultaneously searched for my other two in a low state of panic. The next trip will be better.

We finished the night with dinner at a Mexican restaurant. Finwe crashed as soon as he realized he was home. Inwe passed out on the couch with Phill, who was dealing with the effects of a super sized margarita.

I had to beg Larien to go to bed. When I wouldn't sleep with her, she complained, "I'm going to miss my big person. I always miss my big person."

If I wasn't still so wigged out about lice, I probably would have let the dog's bladder burst and fallen asleep right then. However, White Dragon is one of my children, too. She needed some love.

Wear Them Out on Family Swim Night

Friday I decided to take the kids swimming at the indoor pool. The two who comprehended what was going to happen were very excited. To make the evening better, three of Inwe's friends from school were also at the pool. Larien played with one of the boys she knows from the Pre-K class and also made some friends with a few two year olds who also attend her school. The moms and dads joked that it was CDS night at the pool.

Inwe actually played in a different pool with her friends and their parents while I watched Larien and held Finwe. Some kid brought me a baby floating device for Finwe. It consisted of two rectangular floats held together on the sides by elastic bands. At the bottom of the floats was a strap that velcroed between his legs. At the top were shoulder straps that were also held together with velcro. I was able to hold him by just his hands. He was delighted with this arrangement.

We played in the pool for nearly 1 1/2 hours. The girls took a shower at the gym. Finwe also wandered into the shower with them, but he got very upset when the water got him in the face. Getting dressed took forever. Or, it seemed that way to me. I had put Finwe in his blanket sleeper in case he fell asleep on the way home and also sat him in front of a container that held his dinner. He happily ate on the floor while the girls and I got dry and dressed.

Finwe did indeed fall asleep on the way home. He was the first to bed at 7:15 pm. Inwe followed next after eating dinner. She actually fell asleep in her chair while sucking on a lollipop. That was right around 8:20pm. Larien held out until 8:30pm, but she didn't have much fight left in her.

Gymnastics Photos

Inwe is in the silver leotard. I was able to catch some photos of her on the jump track and doing a backwards roll. I wasn't able to get photos of Larien. I'll try next week.

Let's Play Ball!

The game went two innings. Everyone got to bat twice. A few kids were thrown out, but they got to stay on the base anyway. This is all about fun.
Inwe had a bit of an attention problem. All of the coaches decided that we will focus on fielding, throwing, and catching at the next practice.

My job was keeping the kids in order for batting. I also got to be bat girl. I'm all aflutter.

Packing

At Inwe's T-ball game Finwe hung out on Phill's back in the heavily used backpack. Friends have given me another, better padded kid backpack, but I like this one better. It is a familiar friend with a comfortable feel.

Except for Finwe we all wore red in support of the team.

T-Ball Uniform

Friday was the second practice for the Nationals, the name of Inwe's T-ball team. Inwe is unhappy that the shirts are so large. When it is not tucked into her pants it is dress length. She likes the hat.

Practice was a good time. The kids got to bat, catch, throw, and get a feel for the real game. The rules are incredibly simple. Each inning, every kid gets to bat. The inning is over when all the kids on the team have batted. No score is kept. The throw is always to first. If the runner is actually thrown out, then that is the only time that first base is empty. Each runner advances one base at a time. As our general manager says, "Otherwise all of the hits would be homeruns!"

Sunday is the first game at 2pm. I noticed on the schedule that there are only four T-ball teams. The Nationals will play the same team every other week. I'll write more on Sunday about the game. Since I am helping I don't get to take pictures. It's a full time job to corral the kids. I'll see if Phill can take some pictures while he takes care of Larien and Finwe.

T-Ball

Yesterday Inwe had her first T-ball practice. There area few things that you should know about T-ball today.

1. The object is for the kids to have fun while learning the very basics of baseball/softball.
2. Scores aren't kept.
   
3. The team is coed.
4. The team consists of children from Inwe's school.
   

Four of us parents volunteered to be coaches. Yes, that means me. I'm the only woman as a coach, but as I discovered yesterday evening, a woman is needed. Some of the girls would have been non-participants without a woman to guide them.

We split the kids into two groups. Half practiced hitting the ball off the tee and running to first base. The other half practiced fielding, throwing, and catching. After a few minutes, we switched groups. The best part about the day was that the parents who didn't volunteer to coach ended up getting out on the field and helping out. We had a coach to kid ratio of 1:2.

After the kids had completed the two stations, we put a coach on each base and had the kids run around the bases. I could see the smiles on their faces as I pointed them to second base. The coaches were ready to stop, but the kids weren't. They just kept running. We let them. The parents who had other kids to watch were very happy that their kids were getting tired out. (Phill had Larien and Finwe.)

At the end of the practice we got the kids to get in the cheer circle to yell "Go Nationals!" That's the name of the team that the league assigned. Uniforms come next week. We'll have the next practice on Friday. The first game is Sunday week.

How did Larien do? She doesn't throw well. As I've never focused on teaching her how to throw I'm not surprised. She can hit well. She can field the ball, but catching isn't her strong point. Again, she's never had her hand in a glove, so this is something to practice. I'm hoping that Mr. Maddjones has a glove and ball so I can help her practice at home. She did well running the bases. She's not the fastest, but she also not the slowest.

The best part is that all of the kids had fun. They want to do it again. I still can't believe that I am helping out with coaching and corralling the kids. I need to learn to say no. I can say that I won't help with soccer. I know nothing about soccer except that you kick the ball.