Order Horizon

Sink or swim

Charles and Corwin had swim lessons today. This is Charles’ first real swim lesson, i.e. one that he takes by himself and not with a parent. I went along with Erica because it was his first day. That turned out to be one of the few correct decisions I made today.

Corwin had his time first which went fine because Corwin can swim and the instructor is also his swim coach. Meanwhile Charles splashed around in the baby pool being excessively happy. When it was time for him to get in the training pool he refused. I had to drag him over and we all pleaded with him to try swimming. He went in for a moment but then fled. I browbeat him back in to the water and then had Corwin come over to help. This seemed to help Charles cope, after which the instructor managed to gradually get Charles to participating in a manner other than clutching at her as hard as he could. I, of course, being completely out of it, had forgotten to have him wear his float suit, which compounded the problem.

At first the instructor just dragged him back and forth across the pool. Then she tried to get him to kick his legs. That didn’t work, until she said “kick your legs hard enough to get your dad wet!”. That worked. Charles actually giggled a bit as he paddled along.

Eventually she got him to push off for a couple of strokes from her to Corwin. It wasn’t really swiming, more of an underwater leap, but I was impressed that she got him to let go. She even got him to lay back in the water for a moment, something he’s always hated. Corwin was a help there as well, doing a back float for Charles to demonstrate that it was possible without drowning.

Overall I think it went better than expected. I’ll be sending Erica out without me tomorrow, as I think that like many things the second time is far easier than the first. Corwin will still be there to help as well and I’ll remember the float suit. So I have hopes that things won’t end up completely underwater.

Charles makes the big leap from instructor to Corwin