Swimming Season

So December got designated the season for swimming.

I've been giving Logan one-on-one lessons at the pool every day since last Monday.  He needs them.  Group lessons weren't working for him, and I couldn't hack the expense of private lessons.  So I thought we'd try having consistent lessons together for the four weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas.  We spend 20-30 minutes working together, then he gets free time while I swim a few laps and take a shower.

So far it's working great.  He has really dense bones so floating is a real challenge for him.  His recent swim teacher, who's been teaching for about 100 years, called him a "sinker" which is entirely accurate.  He'll probably never float really well.  But if he can keep moving, he does okay.  His big challenge is not running out of air.

BUT we've made a lot of progress.  For the first time in his life he swam his little self into the deep end on his back - keeping his face above water for that long was a huge step.  We're using flippers as a tool to help him worry less about sinking and be able to concentrate on proper breathing, arm movements, etc.  He's flipper-free on his back after 6 lessons, but still using flippers when he swims on his stomach.  I'm hoping to get him to the point where he can take regular lessons in January.  The breathing thing is probably his biggest challenge at this point.  I feel that once he gets that taken care of, he will be good to go.

Since I've been swimming so much with Logan, the little girls have been begging for their turn.  I told them after Christmas.  But then I told Natalie she couldn't go because she didn't use the toilet all the time (she is STILL having accidents because she just doesn't care enough!!).  Surprise, surprise, she has stopped having accidents and talks all the time about when she's going to go swimming.  She's even stayed dry all night.  I knew she could do it, since she did it for MONTHS this spring.  This kid has been driving me bananas with her refusal to do this.  Is it because she's the youngest?    Apparently swimming was a big enough incentive (for now).  We'll see how long it lasts.  But I'm not taking her swimming until we don't consider ourselves in toilet-training phase at ALL.  Just to rub it in a little (and hopefully keep her motivated), I'm going to take Kenna to the pool on her birthday.  After all, she's been toilet-trained for a couple years now!  I think she deserves it!

In the words of the immortal Dora, "just keep swimming".