I love this time of year; it's the start of the Bank Holidays and this year in particular we've been spoilt with two four-day weekends in a row. The weather has been particularly amazing for April (which is why it's grey and overcast now on the first day of May) and we've been able to take advantage of the great outdoors at almost any opportunity.
Today, however was a tad grey and overcast so we decided for an indoor activity. Having recently been sent a Happy Nappy to review (more about that in another post) we decided to take The Boy swimming. I am ashamed to admit that he has only been once in his little lifetime due to various neurosis of mine, ranging from 'I need him to have had his main jabs before I take him into germ-infested water', to 'it's Winter and I don't want him to catch a cold' and eventually 'I don't want to go when children from school might be there and see me in my swimming costume'. Pathetic isn't it?
As it so happens, I think I may have created a little rod for my own back here (which is good because it's knackered since having had The Boy and could use a little support!).
We took The Boy along to the pool fairly confident; he loved it last time and he loves the bath. He seemed a little unsure when we toddled into the shallow end (and I mean shallow, it's a long slope which starts at the edge of the pool and after about 30-40 feet is only 2 foot deep) but generally quite happy. We went a little deeper so that the water was up to his ribs and he was still fairly happy. After a good splash and kick around, we took him a bit deeper. He clung to me so tightly it was like someone was trying to rip him from us.
Uh-oh!
You see, I lack confidence in the water even though I love it. I can't stand putting my face under the water, I don't like going out of my depth without being about two arms length from the edge and if someone splashes me then the irrational fear creeps in and I panic. My mother is petrified of the water and was determined that all four of us would not be. My father adores the water and used to go scuba-diving regularly when I was a nipper. So you think I'd follow him? Only I don't. And it stems from going swimming with him to Swansea swimming pool when I was about 9 years old. He left me in the shallow end while he went and had a quick go in the plunge pool under the diving board, and they turned the wave machine on. I got swept under and had difficulty regaining my footing. Ever since then I've freaked out.
I have always wanted The Boy to be confident in the water, hubby loves it and adores swimming under the water; testing himself if he can get from one end of the pool to the other in one breath (he can't quite). I want The Boy to love the water like that. Don't get me wrong, he did enjoy himself; he splashed and kicked, giggled and squealed with pleasure, but I just expected him to be fearless like he was last time. Maybe I pushed him too far today? All I know is that next time, we'll take it slowly and stay in the very shallow end for longer.
Oh and next time will be a lot sooner, we've decided to take him a couple of times a month from now on.
He was so tired, he fell asleep eating his lunch with a mouthful half eaten!
I can completely understand you not wanting to go swimming incase you are seen by pupils.
Your experience when younger sounds horrible so I'm not surprised you aren't very confident.
Charles' confidence in the water goes up and down. Sometimes he is confident, sometimes he likes to cling.
I'm sure that the more you take The Boy the more confident he will get, and it may even help your confidence in the water too.
The photo of him asleep in the high chair is adorable! He's such a cute boy! xx
You'd think (by my Twitter pic and that fab Munchkin Mummy badge you have) that Jack would be swimming like a fish by now but I haven't taken him in ages so the last time he went he was clinging for dear life to Daddy. If you take him regularly he will soon get used to it, anyway you need to take him again soon or he'll be needing the next size Happy Nappy if you don't and you're not having another!! ha ha, can't wait to read more about it. Thanks for the link.
x
We don't go often enough either. We've discovered a local hydrotherapy pool. It's £25 for an hour but we have the pool to ourselves (you could take friends and share the cost) and you get a private changing room! We've been about 4 times now but it's still not enough
Good for you for taking him! I just took Little M after a year and a half and he loved it. Made me realise I need to make more of an effort to get myself to the local pool, and I love the water. Oh well. Besides, seeing how they sleep should be motivation enough to take them! LOL Maria x
Lovely post. My stepdaughter (9) swims like a fish and has amazing confidence in water, which totally comes from the fact her dad took her swimming all the time when she was very little. I wish I'd done the same with Child 2 (aged 6) because until we got him some intensive swimming lessons, he would barely put his head under the water in the bath. He's cracked it now, and although he's not quite of Olympic standards, he absolutely loves being underwater as much as possible.
Esther and William have only been swimming once. I worry about their body temp as they are so small and were so prem. When they did go they loved it and now that the weather is warmer I am going to try and take them more often but it is difficult if not impossible on my own. Swimming and water confidence is so important though, and great exercise as your adorable photo shows x Such a cutie x
Bless, he looks a little tired angel in that pic. Like you I am nervous in the water and am determined baby won't be like me. Having said that, I haven't taken him at all yet!
I'm taking Rebecca for the first time tomorrow. She's been doing waterbabies since 8 weeks with her dad but I've not taken her in before. Don't know if I'm more nervous about taking her solo or getting my mummy body out in public!