swimming

The kids were begging to go back to swimming lessons again, so I gave in and signed them up a few weeks ago. Yesterday was their first class. Aside from a few trips to the wave pool, we haven't been swimming since last August - I mentioned this when I signed them up. Tthere is a new level system for Red Cross swimming since last summer, so I was careful to emphasize that the levels I knew they were at was using the old system.

This is a great swim school. The pool is warm, without being hot, and the set up is designed to allow all levels of swimmers comfort in the water. On one side is a 5' wide section of stairs that allow easy entry into the water. It is usually used for the younger kids who can move into deeper water 8" at a time as their confidence and skill increase. Next to the stairs is a very wide section with 3' deep water at one end - moving to deep water at the other. There are 2 lanes on the far side for the more advanced swimmers.

It came as no surprise that 6 was in the far lane in the most advanced class in the time slot. She is a great swimmer - strong and determined - she was assessed at the new level 7. She's thrilled because she assumed she would drop 2 levels in the new system!

However...4 was swimming in lane 2. The water in the shallow end comes up to her chin! I freaked - assuming they had her in the wrong level. The two other kids in her class are 7. They began swimming lengths with flutterboards. After about 20 minutes of continuous swimming, the head instructor begins to assess the kids one at a time. Swim to the deep end, leave the flutter board on the pool edge and swim 1 full length front crawl with breathing. There is no way my kid can do that. I hope they notice her drowning!!! The 2 bigger kids struggled through one length. 4's turn. She turns to the window and waves - grinning ear to ear, then pushes off the side and (with a style guaranteed to attract sharks) kicks, sputters and gasps her way to the other end of the pool.

She remained in the same class. They are impressed with her stamina. Her technique needs work. She thinks she's a star!

So now, I get to hold my breath and cross my fingers on the edge of a chair 1 hour a week for the next 13 weeks...