tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8107067211236991214.post2459886555534242216..comments2024-02-08T03:28:53.645-08:00Comments on the mother load: Agony at the poolAnnie Addingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15995817232815214940noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8107067211236991214.post-24369065905161716592008-07-29T14:01:00.000-07:002008-07-29T14:01:00.000-07:00Nora was four when she learned to swim and had to ...Nora was four when she learned to swim and had to because we moved into a house with a pool. We tried the YMCA first but the children never had to put their faces in the water and I noticed they all had this false sense that they could swim. I needed Nora to know how to save herself if she fell in so a friend recommended Ms. Joni Ressmeyer's group lessons. <BR/>I took Nora and Cavan, almost 2 then, at the same time. Nora was terrified and is very stubborn; she cried a little but trusted Ms. Joni very much and learned to swim. She went back this year and loves it. Cavan pitched fits, like most of the 2 year olds, but he also loved and trusted Ms. Joni and got to the point where he could save himself (sinking way down, then bobbing up and over to the side vertically but successfully). This year he can jump off the diving board and swim to the middle and to the sides and I am so relieved. He focused very hard at lessons and made great strides. <BR/>Ms. Joni doesn't play around (there's no throwing them per se- she tells them they are going to jump in and counts to three. If they need help jumping an assistant counts and swings them gently in. She doesn't let them cry or talk about why they can't do something). I liked it because when I tried this tactic on my own 4 year old, it didn't work. She pushed against me to a point I didn't feel would be healthy for me to push back. Ms. Joni is a third party, a teacher. She has an authority I don't have. At every step she made them feel safe and with the other children there doing it, too, they rely on each other for security. Ms. Joni's rule is, you can't cry when it's not your turn. They have to watch each other and support each other. <BR/>It was a stressfull process for me but it was also beautiful and encouraging to see how far they can come with a trusted expert leading the way.shannonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02708505279716205311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8107067211236991214.post-54418064608266094932008-07-18T19:21:00.000-07:002008-07-18T19:21:00.000-07:00Yep - we went the mommy route Thursday. (See Frida...Yep - we went the mommy route Thursday. (See Friday's post....) You really don't need an instructor for these early water-comfort lessons but we need the motivation just to get to the pool regularly.Annie Addingtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15995817232815214940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8107067211236991214.post-13392673035268053262008-07-17T04:40:00.000-07:002008-07-17T04:40:00.000-07:00My folks havea private pool so I've been teaching ...My folks havea private pool so I've been teaching my now 3yr old since birth how to swim. She's almost got it, I swim right beside her, with my hand holding her belly as she proceeds to kick, kick, kick and move those arms. Maybe you should get in the water with him might feel a bit more secure knowing mommy or daddy in even closer.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16182689677898102916noreply@blogger.com