Just a quick note to say that Peter’s first swimming lesson went well. One of the kids in the class practically clung to his mother (who stayed on the deck next to the pool) for the whole time. When the instructor led the kids away, Peter looked like he wanted one of us to come along, but we stayed put. We figured he could handle it alone, and he did. He was a little uncertain about doing some of the things the instructor asked, but he did them, and he was smiling (and shivering) when it was all over. It helped that two of the kids in his class of five were quite willing to try everything, so when Peter saw them putting their legs in the water or giving the instructor high-fives or putting their ears in the water (one at a time), he tried too. Unfortunately, the instructor today was a substitute. He’ll meet the instructor for the rest of his lessons on Thursday. I hope she’s equally as enthusiastic and gentle with the kids as the instructor today.
The last time Peter went to his grandparents’ house, he came home with a bunch of new clothes, including a swimsuit. When we packed his stuff for his swimming lessons, he said he wanted to wear his new swimsuit, so we took it. When he changed into it, however, we realized it was much too large for him. It would have slid right off with any halfway vigorous activity. Don ran out to the desk to see if they had a safety pin and came back with a small butterfly clip; I was able to double up the waistband in the back and clip it and he made it through the class without mooning anyone.
The lessons are in the Red Cross Swim Preschool program and all the levels have animal names. Peter is in the Salamander group, but he’s not familiar with the name. When he came to us after the lesson, he announced, “I’m a Salamaster!”
Peter has eight lessons in this session; he’ll have lessons on Tuesdays and Thursdays until the end of July. The fifth lesson is parents’ night and we get to go in the water with him. All in all, it was a good introductory swimming lesson experience.
