Swim Lessons

For the last three weeks Maddie has been taking swim lessons at our local community center. The first day was....a little rough. Maddie absolutely refused to get into the water! Even when the head of the aquatic center got in to swim with her, she refused to go. Ben, on the other hand, had a tantrum the entire time because he wanted IN the pool! Poor guy! They aren't allowed to take instructor swim lessons until they're 3, so he has a year to go. As much as I wanted to hang my head in defeat, we went back. And it all worked out ok.

The first week was "fish school." An opportunity for the teachers and kids to get used to the environment. Except for a teacher change, Maddie pretty much did the same thing all three weeks. She learned to blow bubbles (which she readily does in the bath now), float on her back, kick, arm movements, and an introduction to life jackets.

I just thought this picture was so cute! Her teacher for the second and third weeks was Greg. He had three teeny tiny little girls, who loved him! Here they are on the last day. He had his arms out and he was pulling the girls along through the water. Like a daddy duck and his ducklings :)

Here she is the last day of fish school with (L to R) Ben, Maddie, Jenna, Miles, and Andrew. They were sweet little boys! One of the days, Jenna put them on a huge floatie so they could learn to kick. The three boys did a great job kicking. Maddie refused. I told the other moms that she was a smart girl...she was already making the boys work for her! They agreed! haha!

Here's Maddie with her teacher, Greg. I think she really liked him and did really well with him. :)