My Son, The Fish

I've posted several times tonight so make sure you scroll down to read them all!

So I signed Kadin up for swimming lessons at the YMCA. I had a dilemma when I signed him up because he's uber afraid of the water yet he's old enough now where the classes for kids his age are with an instructor only - not mom & dad.

So I inquired about the classes and found out there was a class offered for kids 3-5 where a parent could go in the water with the child - BUT - she told me that mainly 2 year olds are in that class and Kadin would by far be the oldest kid in there.

I sat Kadin down and asked him if he wanted to take swimming lessons. Of course he shouted out a resounding "Yes!" quickly followed by a whimpered "will you go in the water with me?"

Now, I thought for a moment. Should I just sign him up for the baby class and just be embarrassed that my huge kid is in a class full of babies or should I try and persuade him to go in the "big boy" class with the other kids his age.

Of course I choose to lie like a good mother would - I told him that the only class they offered for kids his age, mommies & daddies had to watch from the side of the pool. After several minutes of assuring him he wouldn't drown and that they'd be in the little kiddie pool not the deep part - he agreed.

Fast forward to today - his first day of swimming lessons. We are extremely rushed because -again - good mother that I am thinks his lessons are on Wednesdays, not Tuesdays. Good thing Dad checked the receipt or he would've missed his first class! Thanks Dad!! Kadin is very anxious about this whole thing and I practically have to push him through the hallway into the pool.

We finally make it to the pool - five minutes late - and we see that the kids are indeed in the deep end . . . not the kiddie pool like I had promised him. OF COURSE! With feet firmly planted on the dry floor he tells me that he is not going to go in the deep end. Ok, so now I'm thinking this is $31.00 completely shot in the . . . yeah ok . . . so my head is spinning thinking of ways to get this kid in the water.

By this time the instructor is calling his name & asking him to come over to the side of the pool - but those little feet are not moving. He just keeps telling me how scared he is. So I give in . . . sort of. I tell him to just "sit" wink, wink on the side of the pool and dip his feet in the water. I told him he didn't have to go in the water if he didn't want to.

He finally agrees that this sounds like a good compromise so he meekly makes his way to the side of the pool and sits down - feet dipping in the cool water. The instructor swims over - bless her heart - and scoops him up and takes him away. With one slightly worried glance in my direction he's off - learning how to swim with the "big boys".

I've never felt a prouder moment as a parent. My scared, somewhat wussy little man was swimming around in that water like a little fish. Ok - he wasn't really swimming, but he was in the water splashing around & stuff - let me have my moment ok!

My boy kicked, he floated, he went UNDER WATER, he JUMPED OFF THE SIDE . . . I was so proud of him my heart was overjoyed with emotion . . . I seriously almost had tears in my eyes. It will be a moment I'll always remember . . . and the look on his little face after the instructor gently placed him on the side of the pool . . . Kadin turned - looked at me and gave me a thumb's up.

Not only was I proud - he was proud too.