Swimming Lessons

We really wanted the boys to learn to swim this summer. Matthew has had several years' worth of swimming lessons through our local YMCA, but the fact that they were once per week and he couldn't touch the bottom of the pool meant that he never learned to swim. In fact, he had developed an unhealthy fear of the water, and didn't like getting into pools at all.

Enter our local elementary school. Our elementary school has a fabulous swimming pool with an entry ramp that gently slopes into the water. It also has a large 3' deep section, perfect for practicing basic swimming techniques while still reaching the bottom of the pool. The director of the swim team is a mother of 8 children, and knows what she is doing - so when I learned of lessons offered at our school pool, I signed both boys up.

The boys had two weeks of lessons, and we went to the pool every morning at 9:00am. By the third day of swimming lessons, Matt went from not swimming at all to jumping off the diving board in 12 feet of water and swimming to the side of the pool by himself.

He can now swim with a basic freestyle stroke and absolutely loves the water. LOVES it. He was able to go down the water slide at a local municipal pool for the first time, all by himself!

Nolan loves the water and also made huge strides. By the end of the two weeks, he was swimming about 6 feet independently. He can fall into a pool and swim to the side, which is an extremely important skill for a young swimmer. Nolan is fearless and also jumped off the diving board (with a swim "bubble" attached as he isn't a strong enough swimmer to do this without a flotation device yet).

Swimming lessons were a big success this year - I am so happy for my two water babies!

The fearless Nolan jumps!

Matt can't get enough of the water!