I, Swimming

Seventeen years ago I was a competitive swimmer, lifeguard, and taught many a child to swim. Of course I thought my children would love the water as much as I do and jump right in and start swimming with little help from me. Isn't that the way it works?

My five year old son has done well. He is now floating, swimming a bit underwater, and loves to be in the pool. He would go everyday if we let him. He's always loved to be in the pool and has never had much fear of it. My two year old daughter is another story. She refuses to get in the pool and spends her time at the pool just walking around it and crying anytime I try to pick her up to bring her into the pool. It's a pretty funny sight to see her prancing around the perimeter of the pool in her bathing suit with the built in inflatables. She looks like a little pink turtle.

On Saturday, I had reached my limit. This is my daughter, and there is no way she isn't going to love the water! I got out of the pool, picked her up, and while she was crying sang the "I'm Getting Eaten by a Boa Constrictor" song that I had used with some success years ago to get reluctant little ones into the pool. Before she could protest too much, she was in the pool, and up to her chest. Within 30 seconds, she was in her Dad's arms floating around and squealing with laughter. She starts yelling over to me, 'Mommy, I swimming, I swimming!' It was music to my ears - my swimming legacy lives on!