swim lessons

Swim lessons were quiet an experience! We were so optimistic because she had become so comfortable in the water, especially when she has on her puddle jumper. She was jumping in, going under water and had even taken it off and swam under water to the side of the pool. Little did I know that taking off the puddle jumper & putting her in a pool with strangers would not go over so well. Ha. I should have known...

Here she is kind of excited, kind of nervous before her first lesson. I took her picture and Cooper wanted one of him so we did another with him. Something is wrong with my camera and the flash isn't working. This has to be fixed ASAP. All my pictures inside are blurry.

Still all smiles waiting on them to call her to the pool.

so cute. sitting with her other classmates listening to rules before getting into the water for the first time. There were a total of 7 kids and two teachers. They had a guy (Kenny) and a girl (Emily). Madison had Kenny the first night and did not enjoy him. I think he pushed her more than she wanted to be pushed.

This was soon her only face the rest of the evening. Yes, she cried. She was the only one that cried. She cried "momma" the entire 45 minutes. It was sad and frustrating. Trent and I both talked to her at different times but nothing helped.

This little dude watched cartoons on Trent's phone. He was such a trooper. He really wanted to get in the pool. It was so hot outside. I felt bad for him.

End of day one is over and did not go so well!
That night I had a talk with her and told her that if she would do her swim lessons and not cry then we would take her to a movie after they were all over. I also reassured her that they wouldn't let anything happen to her and all that. As soon as I mentioned a movie she quickly asked if she could see the Justin Beiber movie. I agreed. She was pumped.

Day 2: She did GREAT!!! She did everything they asked but had to have some extra help that the others kids didn't. She always wanted the girl to go to the bottom with her. She wanted to hold their hand to jump into the pool etc. She got skittles on the way home because she came running over excited to see her Justin Beiber movie. Oops. She didn't realize she had to make it through all 8 lessons.
Day 3: She cried again. Ugh. She did everything but she cried. It wasn't as bad as day 1 but still. I decided the movie motivation after all 8 lessons was too far away. I went to the each night thing. I didn't have a problem bribing her because this was a true fear for her. I would never bribe her to be nice, or listen to her teacher or things I expect from her. I know she was truly scared and wanted to give her some motivation. I told her that she could sleep with me if she did good on day 4. Trent was going to be out of town and that's her favorite thing to do when he's gone.
Day 4 &5 : PERFECT!! Day 5 she got ice cream.
Day 6: Sue Ann came to watch and she cried most of the lesson because "the normal girl" wasn't there. She had really become attached to Emily after day 2. She did everything they asked but not happily. She lost the movie since she cried twice. :(
Day 7 & 8: She did FANTASTIC --got to sleep with me because Trent was out of town again.

Here a few pictures from throughout the 2 weeks.

He went 'nigh night' a lot. Then he'd want me to take his picture so he could see it. :)


floating on her back --with a little help!


This little guy was always so hot but so good. He always wanted me to take his picture so he could see it.

Day 8: Our last day of lessons! By this time she was finally comfortable and having fun when she came. I just wish we had another week or two. I've learned my lesson. I think she needs private lessons and a girl for sure. She's always been more comfortable with women than she has with men. Maybe next year.

Waiting on her last lesson. Oh we had to go get goggles after the first lesson.


waiting to jump in and swim to the side


with her friends on the top dock, waiting their turns. I see she learned how to squirt water with her hands. Hey, at least she learned something...right?? One of her friends from church was in her class. That was fun.


So proud of this little girl!

She has learned how to swim under water for a long distance, she can get a ring from the bottom with help to be pushed down, she can float on her back although she's very nervous and has a hard time relaxing. She learned to do some strokes but doesn't do them on her own. She came a long way from day 1. I'm happy with it.


One last picture of my sweet boy on the last night! He brought his car to push around.


My little swimmer showing off her certificate of completion and a picture they took of her!

I will have to admit, I'm SO GLAD they are over. Trent was only able to come to 3 lessons. I had to do the other 5 by myself, sick, with a toddler who couldn't swim, sometimes with a girl who cried and all of it in 105+ weather. Next year, we will find an indoor pool. Ha!