Swim Lessons

Today was Ben's final day of swim lessons. John and I were able to go watch the last 15 minutes and see what they had learned. Ben is not an Olympic swimmer after eight swimming lessons, but he did learn some valuable lessons, some about swimming. Parents were not allowed to stay during lessons and this was hard for the kids. Two of them cried every day the first week and one did not come back for the second week of class. Although Ben was very worried about it, he never cried and was very brave. Every day we prayed about his lessons and we prayed for Graham and Banks. Ben learned that even though I was not there to watch over him, God was still there watching over him and taking care of him.

Jumping in from the side.

Swimming to Mrs. Debbie.

Swimming from Mrs. Debbie to Mrs. Jennifer.

On the diving board.

Ben feet just wouldn't jump so Mrs. Debbie threw him in. Yesterday, Mrs. Debbie said Ben needed to practice jumping. That he would just step off instead of jumping. We practiced jumping off the chair in his room last night and this morning, but he froze up when we were watching. Debbie said he jumped much better before we arrived.

Coming up from his splash.

Swimming to the ladder.

Ben's favorite part was playing train in the "water tubes" during the last five minutes of lessons.

Having a special popcicle treat to celebrate the last day of swim lessons with Burn and Harris.

Since Ben did not get to swim any in a big pool last summer because we had to stay home with Mollie, he knew nothing about how to swim. My goals for these lessons were Ben becoming comfortable in the water and to not freak out when water gets in his eyes. They accomplished both these things and more. We are making John's membership at the Y a family membership so that we will have a place to swim and Ben can keep practicing the skills he has learned.