Swimming Lessons

After going to her first day of school, Gracie started swimming lessons today at the YMCA, too. She was the only child who showed up for the 3-5 year old Eels class. After describing her comfort with being in the water, the staff had recommended this class, which is the most advanced pre-school class offered by the Y. Being the only child for the first class was wonderful, since Miss Bridget got to work with Grace all by herself. I was sort of glad to see that after being very comfortable in the water with Mommy and Daddy, that she clung to Miss Bridget's neck and was not nearly as confident with her. Of course, that defeats the whole idea of swimming lessons, since she isn't learning to swim while she is clinging to the instructor. By the end of the class, she had relaxed and was putting her head under the water and jumping in. She doesn't get the idea of the flotation devices, though, and did not want to hold onto that board for any reason. The whole time Grace was in the water, I kept wondering if this was too early to try to push her to trust another adult in this way, but it was nice that we got to sit right next to the water to see her float on her back while holding the board to her chest and while she was swimming and kicking her feet. Grace loved the 84 degree water and the shallow pool depth at the Y, but she still shivered when she had to sit on the edge. At the end of the class, she even jumped through the sprinkler fountains and was begging to go back to swimming lessons again. What a day of firsts...school and swimming lessons. Mommy needs an early bedtime.