Fishes in the Sea

 I came to terms with the fact that my two older kids were excellent and confident swimmers, while my younger two were squeamish and uncomfortable with swimming.  The former, born and raised for several years in warm climates, the latter, born and raised in Washington.  Ah, that explains it all.

After listening to some other mothers, I realized that I would have to work harder at this than I had before. We feel that knowing how to swim and riding a bicycle are Two Things Every Kid Should Know. So, that means signing up and driving to lessons at the heated pool. This wasn't going to come naturally since the climate wasn't agreeable to lots of outdoor recreational swimming.

This year Audrey took to the water like, well, a fish.  She put her face in the water while swimming, relaxed into the back float, and would bob ten times under the water. She would proudly come up over the side with her toothless, "Look at me, Ma!" grin.

Ethan, not so much. He obediently got into the water but clung to the side until the teacher peeled him off for his turn to swim.  He nervously laughed as she floated him farther away from the side and always made sure he kept sight of the wall he longed to be returned to. However, Ethan is an agreeable child and he always would do what was asked of him. This gave me hope that he would eventually relax and see that it wasn't so bad after all. He did, and actually got excited to go the lessons (by the last one).

Apparantly I didn't take any pictures of Ethan at his lessons (?!). Perhaps he didn't look so happy and I didn't document it? I know that I was always sitting nearby, smiling at him and telling him with my eyes that I loved him and he would be okay.