Pool Pass

This year was a wonderful learning opportunity for the kids. My mom moved in last June and this year we took FULL advantage of her community pool. The best part of all was that both kids learned to let go of me in the water and swim on their own. This was especially true for Lacey because she now wears only arm floaties instead of both arms and tummy floaties. She can now swim alone and very well. She is amazing and I was very proud of her. She also did something that was very frightening for her, but she really wanted to try. She jumped into the pool from the side while holding her nose. It took some coaxing from us and her new little pool friend, but she finally jumped. She went completely under and popped back up. Breathless and scared, but not sputtering or choking. She did it! But it was so scary for her, she decided not to do it again. Still, she went out of her comfort zone and it was wonderful.

Nate also made huge improvements. He was so afraid of the water at one point, that he would just cling to me with just his legs in the water. Then I added both tummy and arm floaties to make him as bouyant as possible and step by step, we got him into the water, then holding him under his tummy, then holding arms, and then holding one arm, until we let go of him and he was off before realizing it. Once he knew he was safe, he was great! He can swim the length of the pool all on his own.

We had a great time this year at the pool. I am thinking about putting them in swimming lessons in the spring if its available. I think they would have a blast!