Fishy

Swimming is the task of the month for Owen. Given that we voted him Most Likely To Hurl Himself Into the Deep End of The Pool, I signed him up for the swim/float/swim baby survival swim class. They don't expect them to be doing fantastic strokes at 2, of course, but they try to teach them to turn onto their backs to get air and then to turn around and try to move through the water to a destination (ie., the side of the pool or something they can grab onto). Liam did it at age 4, and it worked pretty well for him. Natalie tried it at age 2 and after 6 or 7 weeks (did I mention 4 days a week, 10 minutes a day) of tortuous screaming and clinging, the instructor gave up (and I was so relieved to stop- it was brutal). I do think it is a good idea for Owen, but I'm not without my reservations. I stayed in the pool for the first 3 days so that he would know I was there, but then she suggested I let him go in without me. He cries. Some days more than others. But he still high fives the teacher after he floats or turns or kicks well. She thinks he is doing really well, and is almost there in terms of doing it on his own. I want him to trust her...but don't know how much I want him to bond with her, for reasons of attachment.

I was a little squeamish...squirmy...uncomfortable...today. I realized that when he is floating he puts his hands behind his neck (you know, like on the cop shows when they arrest someone and say put down your weapon and put your hands behind your head). I asked the teacher if she showed him to do that and she said "No, it would actually be better for floating if he kept his arms out straight, but if he feels more comfortable this way, that's fine." It was strangely reminiscent of his early days home when he would "assume the position" for dinner. We assume that whenever he was spoon fed at the orphanage that they would make them put their hands behind their heads so there was no grabbing at spoons, etc. He doesn't do it anymore when we eat. But it made me a little sad seeing him do it in the pool...somehow it looks too much like a position of submission. Like "I'm only doing this because you're forcing me." Or maybe I was just emotional today. I do think he likes the water and is going to be an early swimmer. We're all about survival here. I know he has a strong survival instinct, so I'm hoping by giving him the tools, he'll use them if the situation arises. Meanwhile, we may need to go to the pool for some fun stuff soon, just to lighten it up a bit. I am proud of my swimmer boy though. (I don't let him wear the goggles for lessons, since they'd just get in the way, but he LOVES to wear them around the house and on the way to lessons). And the most favorite part is the sucker he gets at the end. All the time now he says "Swim. Cindy (teacher's name). Sucker."