Ivie Family: Swim Lessons- Week 1

Friday, June 22, 2012

Swim Lessons- Week 1

Week one of two of swim lessons is complete! Whew! What a week! This is Ryan's third year of lessons and Emma's first year. I fibbed and said that Ry was turning 3 at the end of June, instead of the end of July so that she could do the next level class. She has done the Mommy And Me class the past two years and I wanted to see how she would do getting in the pool without us. She loved swimming last summer and I really thought she would be ready for the next level class. I made the wrong choice! On the other hand, Miss Emma rocked the Mommy And Me class everyday. She loved it just like Ryan did the past two years. The Tharp boys also joined Emma in the Mommy And Me class this year! Here is a quick review of our week.
Monday: Chris was at work and Mamaw helped me. I got in with Emma and Mamaw watched Ryan freak out when her teacher tried to get her to get in! Ryan was so excited before it was time to get in. Another little girl was screaming and freaking out and I think it spooked Ryan. Mamaw ended up getting in and taking over with Emma and Ryan completed the second half of the baby class with me.
Tuesday: I got in with Emma. Chris tried to persuade Ryan to go with her class. No luck. He ended up getting in with her and joining the baby class after a lot of frustration. Emma LOVED the Wheels on the Bus song/activity and Ryan was able to do some awesome airplane arms! Chris went home after the lesson and mowed the lawn to blow off steam!
Wednesday: I got in with Emma and we worked on blowing bubbles and getting in and out of the pool safely. Emma loved it all! Mr. Clay (Ryan's swim teacher the past two years) took Ryan and gave her a one on one lesson. She did awesome with him! No crying and lots of kicking and giggling. I was so excited for her. Chris didn't even have to get in. We thought we had a break through!
Thursday: Chris was at work and Emma had green snot and a low grade fever. Emma stayed with Mamaw and Pa and I took Ryan to swim lessons alone. I was hoping for a repeat or better of Wednesdays class, I didn't even wear a swimsuit (jinx!). Mr. Clay had told me that he would be available to help Ryan again. Well, another teacher was sick so Mr. Clay had to fill in for that class. Ryan sat by the edge of the pool and watched her class for the first 10 minutes, refusing my pleas to get in. Then, Ms. Olivia came over and tried to get her to get in. WOW! What a fit she threw. Poor Ms. Olivia got her in the pool, but not without a fight. I ran off to get out of sight in hopes that Ryan would calm down like she had for Mr. Clay. It never happened. After 10 minutes sweet Ms. Olivia threw in the towel and handed Ryan off to me. I didn't have a swimsuit on so we headed home. Chris and I decided that night that we would also throw in the towel on the 3 year old class and let our still 2 year old girl do the baby class one more year. The last thing we want is to traumatize her and make her hate the pool (especially since I was forcing her into an advanced class early!)
Friday: Our girls both did fabulous! Lots of bubble blowing, ice cream scooping, airplane arms, kicking and giggling. Emma is "a little fish" said Ms. Emma (the teacher). And, Ryan finally relaxed and enjoyed the whole lesson (minus the last 2 minutes when she refused to sit on the fish for her turn at the goodbye song).

I think next week will be great. I am hoping to get some pictures of the girls in action. This week was trial and error and not a lot of time for pictures!