My kiddo brag...he knows how to swim...

**guest002** · 07-31-2009, 02:22 PM

My 7 1/2 year old (turns 8 on Thanksgiving) was water phobic. We've taken him swimming many times in the past and he's relied on vest or other flotation devices and was very fearful. He wouldn't go underwater. Wouldn't trust our instruction even though my husband swims for exercise many times a week, etc.

This past April, I had enough. I saw it as a safety issue 1st and foremost. Last summer he went to a day camp that went to the city pool and I hated that he didn't know how to swim. He was getting older and he needs to know how to swim IMO for many reasons. Safety first and I just knew he'd love it.

So, late April he started swim lessons with a swim club affiliated with USA Swimming here at the city pool. I had heard a lot of good about their instruction and their swim team if ds decided that he wanted to go that route after he learned how to swim.

So, he did the Spring cycle and got over his fear of the water. He did Summer cycle 1 and almost could swim. Was very close, but not there yet. At the end of cycle 1 his coach assisted him in "diving" into the Olympic swim lane. That was so cool to watch. Boy did that tug at my heart strings.

Well, yesterday was the last day of Summer cycle 2 and the end of swim lessons for the summer. They take August off. I'm so proud to say that my ds freestyle swam 25 meters all by himself! OMG I was so proud you'd have though he was swimming at the freaking Olympics! I had a feeling that today was the day he was going to have a major break through and got dh to get off of work early to come watch ds swim. He was swimming in freestyle in spurts but that was by far the best and the farthest. All summer long he had a mental block with the back stroke. He'd just tense up and freak out. It's like he could power his way through freestyle but not back stroke. Well, with the coach and I telling him he could do it, he did it! All in 7 feet of water! The all elusive deep end! He can swim! He can swim!

For their "graduation" they jumped in the pool off the blocks into the swim lane.

My fearful son who is always afraid is finally getting confident. All I've ever asked of him is to try. Now he's getting that his coaches won't ask him to do something dangerous. They are there right behind him. And man that smile when he realized he swam the length of that pool all by himself! PRICELESS!

Now he wants to try out in September for Swim Team!

Wish us luck!

**ktsmama** · 07-31-2009, 03:22 PM

Congratulations to your DS!!! What an accomplishment.

**frugalfranny** · 07-31-2009, 03:36 PM

CONGRATS!

Were you lucky enough to be there with the camera for the smile?

**MommyBliss** · 07-31-2009, 04:01 PM

That is so GREAT! Congrats for you all. I know that has got to have you feeling so good.

**guest002** · 07-31-2009, 08:29 PM

Originally Posted by frugalfranny

CONGRATS!

Were you lucky enough to be there with the camera for the smile?

Oh, of course not! He's still beaming today and he talked on the phone all about it to his grandma for 36 minutes today about it.

I've done some more research and found another good USA Swimming affiliated place in the area (23 miles away) for him to keep taking lessons while his club is on their 6 week break. Since it's so fresh and new for him I don't want him to forget what he has learned or lose any of his confidence. He's still pretty determined to test/try out for the swim team in mid-September.

This is a huge deal for us. Ds has never shown this sort of motivation or determination for anything before especially a sport. We're going to do our best to encourage and support him as much as we can without being pushy.