Swimming Lessons

Emily and Hannah took swimming lessons during the month of June from the Eastside YMCA.  They went two days a week for four weeks.  I feel like they both improved so much.  I was SO pleased with their class size and teachers.  Emily had 3 kids (including herself ) in her class and Hannah's class had four (including her).  Their classes met at the same time and they ended up being in the lane right next to each other, which they liked. 

I took these next two pictures on the first day of class, before it started.  They were both so excited!  

After their teachers arrived and asked them to go sit on the steps of the pool our Hannah Banana panicked.  She started wailing and it was everything we could do to get her to stay in the pool (much less to participate).  We knew this was a possibility with her, which is why I asked Bert to meet me at the pool for this first class.  It was chaotic and a bit stressful.  Anyway, her teacher didn't seemed to be bothered by it and said if I was comfortable for the next class to try leaving the pool area and she felt sure Hannah would calm right down. She said she'd had much success before with doing this. Apparently Hannah wasn't the first child to cry during swimming lessons. :)

So, the next class came and I was by myself this time.  Hannah was fine until we got to the pool area and then she latched onto my leg and started wailing again.  I wouldn't have been able to get her in the pool without getting in myself.  Another teacher came over to help Hannah's teacher for the first couple minutes.  She held Hannah and helped her get into the water.  I stepped outside the pool area into this room that had glass windows where I could still watch.  I could see them, but they couldn't really see me because of the angle.  Hannah calmed down within 5 minutes that first day that I left and every other day she calmed down faster and faster.  By the end it was taking her about 30 seconds after I left to calm down.   Every day, after I left, she did unbelievably well.  She was doing everything her teacher asked her to do, and smiling about it.  I was so proud of my girl! 

One day I snuck back in a side door and snapped a picture of them in action.  Emily was with her teacher on the right in the picture below and Hannah was with her teacher on the left. 

I was thinking that maybe by the last class I would be able to sit beside the pool and watch and listen, but that wasn't the case.  Hannah cried and cried before every class, but seconds after I walked out she would calm down.  I'm thankful I was still able to watch them in action from afar.  I was very pleased with all that both of my girls learned during their classes and I'm definitely planning on using the Y again next summer!