I Survived Swimming Class Part 2

After four weeks of crying and sputtering, we came to the end of our time with Infant Swimming Resource.
On the last day, Rosie looked at me doubtfully.
"Are you sure?" she asked.
"Yes, today is our last day."
"And no more after this?"
"Yes, no more."
"Never, ever, ever?"
Well, there could be no promises. After all, they do need refresher courses yearly, but it's too hard to explain now, so I nodded, soul turning black.

It's an understatement to say Rosie disliked swimming classes, but the results were undeniable. Somewhere, between all the whining and flailing and burping (they got horrible swim burps, it sounded like projectile vomiting), the kids had learned to swim. During their lessons they have shown, without a thought, a propensity to turn to wall and reach for it. It's a small victory, but in the chaos of falling into the pool, how many children have failed to save themselves while just a couple feet from the edge?

Simon was not a strong kicker. He was teething horribly during his lessons, and apparently it made his limbs go straight like a board. But Rosie could kick up a storm. Here is some video of her swimming during the last week of lessons:

I have nothing but good things to say about their teacher. She was the perfect balance of firm and loving, so while she didn't let crying get in the way of the lesson, she was soothing and consistent. At the end of our time with her, Simon would swim to the wall, turn around and swim back to her – all while crying of course, but his teaching was glowing. "We're bonding!" she told me.

A couple weeks back, I took the kids to the community pool. It had been a couple months since their last swim lesson, so their enthusiasm for the pool had returned. I let them play on the steps but didn't dare to stick anything but my feet in the water it was so cold. Simon walked to the far side of the steps and turned so his back was the the water. In just a split second, he lost his balance and fell backward into the pool. I stood up quickly to help him, but in the few seconds it took me to get to him, he flipped over onto his belly and started to wave his arms to turn towards the steps. He was holding his breath, and his eyes searched for the wall. It had been a long time since he had been in the water, but he had instinctually remembered what to do.

When I pulled him out of the water, he started crying and shivering, but he was okay. And I? I was just amazed.