Lainy Swims

Lainy has always been nervous around water. She hated baths for a long time and only very recently stopped having anxiety when I'd wash her hair. We have wanted to get her into swimming lessons for a long time. In January we finally signed her up for a 4-year-old class at a nearby pool.

Her first lesson was horrible. The process of putting kids into classes was very chaotic so Lainy was left hanging on the side of the pool waiting for far too long. By the time a teacher finally made it over to her, she was silently crying. The teacher turned out to be very callous to nervous children, which only upset Lainy more and prompted her to scream and cry through the whole thing. I was pretty upset too. Despite being lectured by the teacher about it being "better to stay in the water", I pulled my terrified child out of the pool with ten minutes left and held her close. Brad and I debated about not sending her back, but decided that we'd give it one more week.

We showed up early for the next class and were greeted warmly by a new teacher who is fun and sweet and awesome! It has made all the difference to Lainy (and to me).

Now, after 8 lessons, Lainy can float on her back by herself,

 kick with a kickboard,

 and dunk her head underwater.

 Awesome! We're so proud of her!