It was not all his fault, however. I am sure that my worry about his certain death by drowning was communicated to him through my mannerisms, even though I tried to keep a cool head. I am a worrier, after all.
So when he was 3 years old, he began participating in swimming class once/week at preschool. His teacher was a swim instructor and really encouraged us to enroll him in 1:1 swimming classes so she could work closely with him.
It was really expensive, but worth every penny. She knew him well since she was one of his main teachers, so she knew exactly how to gently push him without him withdrawing. She said that he is such a charmer, he would charm the pants off of anyone working with him and get out of having to do anything he didn't want to do. Man, she had him figured out!
He sure has come a long way though. As part of our Father's Day weekend, we went to the pool this past Saturday and he had a blast. He swims every day now in the pool at his school during summer camp, so he knows what areas he can go into and where he can touch. He was so confident. I am a proud mama.
Now, let's talk about LBZ. This boy. He radiates confidence in the water. I think he is probably also reflecting what I give off, and since I am a much more confident mama (I know he will not only survive swimming, but he WILL feel comfortable in the water before age three) he rises to my level of expectation.
He saw this slide, and wouldn't stop until he reached the top. He saw those stairs, and begged to climb them "up and down, up and down, mommy".
I didn't think I was allowed to go with him, so I sent his brother. BBZ got bored with that and ran off to play with a friend. I ended up going up the stairs to the top with him, but he slid down on his own. Over and over and over, he circled around the other side of this play area, back up the stairs, and slid again.
At times, he slid down like he owned it. Other times, he sat at the top and just looked around. It appeared at first that he was scared, but I don't think he was. I think he was just watching the world. Perhaps contemplating it from atop this high place. I like to think that he was just enjoying the quiet peacefulness of the place, much like we do on top of a mountain. It was kind of surreal.
These boys just continue to amaze me. I love watching them grow, and contrast them against each other not in some sort of competitive way, but instead to celebrate their differences and better learn who they are.
Each of them are their own unique person, developing right before my eyes.
