The Next Michael Phelps?

I don't remember a summer, growing up, during which I didn't take swimming lessons. My mom says I was in lessons before I could walk. I don't remember those specifically, but I do remember going all the way to the top level, and I regret not taking the life guard certification class. Still to this day, I wish I had done that.  I wonder how good I could have been if my school had a swim team. I wonder if swimming would have been 'my sport.'

I'm not sure if the lessons were important to my parents because we lived on a river or what, but the importance they placed on them has now been instilled in me, and I want my children to take lessons all the way to the top. (Especially since we're active members in our community pool and we make several trips to the Seth's uncle's house (on Granbury lake) every summer.) 

I want Austin (and any other future children) to be able to develop a healthy respect of water. I want him to understand that if it's not respected, it can be deadly. But I also want him to have as much fun as that body of water will allow. I want him jumping in off the side of the pool (or from the boat into the lake). I want him to ski. I want him to pick toys off the bottom. I want him to use goggles and hold his breath. I want him to love the water! But, I also want him to be safe.

So, we've enrolled Austin in lessons at Emler Swim School. Here's a link. He's in the first level of Waterbabies. The goal for this first level is to develop 8-10 seconds of breath control under water. ! There are several levels, and the first couple involve me getting in the water and doing things with him, but eventually, starting at like age two, they'll be guided by the teacher to independently move 7-10 feet through the water. When I first read that on the website, I thought that seemed like a bit of a stretch, but after going to the facility several times, I've seen tiny kids doing exactly that!

We haven't done more than the orientation and one lesson, but so far he seems to LOVE it. He was splashing and smiling and generally having fun. One of the exercises is to hold him by the head, backwards, so he's floating on his back with his ears in the water. I thought he'd throw a fit, but he just looked up at me and smiled. He didn't yet go fully under the water. We practiced the activities, all while keeping his head above water. They take it in second increments, so at his next lesson he'll go under for one second, then two seconds, etc.

He was the youngest in his class, but did all the activities with the least fussing and with the most smiling. The teacher applauded him when we left and said that she's excited to have him back next time. It felt so good to have his teacher be proud of him, and it gave me a glimpse of the future: of being proud of him in future situations. 

He was so into it and was so happy, I think he might just be 'a swimmer.' Maybe we're raising the next Michael Phelps?