Shawn had a total BREAK THROUGH at swimming class this morning! Miss Becca gave him a floaty belt, which he’s worn once before, but this time she also gave him a floaty that looked like a long bar-bell. He loved it! He actually reached out for it and smiled. The combination of his belt around his chest and the bar-bell he was holding onto, I could actually let go of him (though cautiously). I could pull him by the bar-bell and he’d giggle and smile and ask for more. I even got him to let go of the bar-bell with one hand and splash a little with the other! (This isn’t an issue during bath time, but he’s never really moved his arms around much during swimming lessons.) I still couldn’t get him to kick (even when I’d tickle his feet or move his legs for him), but at least he was having fun. About half-way through class, Miss Becca traded the bar-bell for a kick board. It was a lot harder to hold on to, but once Shawn figured it out, he smiled and giggled on it, too. I towed him around in circles and up and down the pool a few times. Miss Becca pointed out that maybe he doesn’t understand what to do when we say, “Kick,” since it feels different from kicking a ball when you’re standing on the ground. So, I’d lay on my back and kick a few splashes behind him. It worked! He laughed hard and started to kick!!!! (With all the splashing, kicking, and whatnot that Shawn did today, his teeth didn’t chatter and his lips did turn as blue nearly as much as they usually do.) Thank you, Miss Becca!
Next week is our last class, for now anyway. In addition to getting our report cards (!), it’s “Boat Safety Day.” Apparently, we’re going to practice putting on life vests and getting in and out of a boat. Interesting… I’m not really sure why this is a part of this particular class, but okay.
Now that it actually feels like a swimming lesson and not just play time in the pool (though we still sang songs and played with toys, too), I’m more willing to sign up for the next class. I asked her about the next session of classes and if she’d be teaching it or if our original teacher would be back. (If our first teacher is signed up for it, I think we’d pass! Miss Becca actually looks at the skills individual kids are learning, offers the parents suggestions, and - what a concept - knows the kids’ names! What a difference a change in the teacher has made.) It turns out that she will be teaching the next session and there’s only a week or two break between the end of this session and the start of the next one. I was thinking that we’d just go to the Roselle pool and do our own thing, but now maybe we will get one more session of lessons in before the outdoor pool season starts.
Today was a GORGEOUS day (60 F). Abby came over to ask Shawn to play outside when he woke up from his nap. Of course, they pulled out the toy lawn mower/bubble blower. When Abby and Bill went in for dinner, Raj, Shawn, Baron, and I went for a walk to the park. Raj showed Shawn how to climb a structure that looks similar to the rungs of a curving ladder. I think I held my breath each time Shawn went near it. I’d like to say that it was too difficult for his little toddler legs, shaky balance, and unsure footing, but, to my dismay, he proved he could navigate it with little more than a watchful eye and an encouraging word. I will admit that it was exciting to watch him conquer the difficult equipment, but it’s still not exactly my favorite part of the playground for him to play on!
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