The low down on H2O

Let me break this down for you:
B - fish
K - fish
A - fish
Z - terrified of water!

This year we have been to our local pool once (busy mom syndrome) and in that one visit I became convinced that this is the year that Z will learn to love (okay maybe accept is a better word) the water. Why?
1. He asked me on the way - where is my floaty mom? Um you are 6 years old - too old.
2. B trying to coax Z into the deep end, but Z's momma didn't raise a fool he wouldn't have anything to do with B! Good for him!
But as you can see I knew it was the year - we've catered to the fear for too long. So I signed him up for classes at the YMCA - Tuesday & Thursday once again would have an event to keep me running.
Last Tuesday I loaded them up and off we went, me singing praises of swim lessons the whole way - telling Z&A what big kids they were and how good they would do. Teacher introduction was the deal breaker for A - Mr. Michael, big guy, young, smiling but completely uncomfortable with small humans (A and I could both see it and feel it) so A did not jump up immediately and go, sort of hung onto my pants until I pealed her off and threatened her with sitting by the pool for the entire summer (good thing she didn't push that threat!). Z actually went very willingly to Ms. Peggy and I was thrilled. A finally got more comfortable with me standing right beside the pool. I thought we were good to go - first mistake, me thinkin'!!
Thursday - we (being good little students) got to the pool early. A was nervous about Mr. Michael and Z had a bad cough that made him more tentative than on Tuesday. Suddenly a siren began to wail and life guards were running, yelling, grabbing equipment and we saw a woman floating in the pool. E-gads!!! We were assured that it was a drill but that didn't calm my already stressed kids. After all the hoop-la we were introduced to A's real teacher, Ms. Dani and Z now had Mr. Michael who promptly took him to the "big" pool and plopped him in - he turned and looked at me, red eyes as big as quarters and began coughing. He looked terrified and I couldn't blame him, he was holding on to the side, no floaty, no body fat to keep out the cold and a rope between him and the stairs to freedom. I did what I never thought I would do - I pulled him out of the pool (I had told him that if he coughed I would get him out - of course I meant a coughing fit). A loved Ms. Dani and did great.
Fast forward to today - Tuesday, May 10 - we started to the car and the tears began. See Z had a run in with a friends head today and had a double nostril nose bleed so his nose hurt and so of course it would probably be a bad idea to swim... ugh! I assured him he'd be fine and that it was important to go and try to learn to swim. A's only concern today was that she was able to wear her pretty blue cover-up. We got there and I assured Z that I would make sure Mr. Michael knew he wasn't comfortable in the water, so he could be a little more gentle then plopping him in the water without ceremony. We found out that Ms. Peggy was actually Z's teacher and that was a relief, she was very gentle and gave him a lot of freedom to say what he wanted. While I was talking Z began to cry and with that came yucky red snot (oh lovely), A walked briskly to Ms. Dani (happy little girl) and I went to sit right by the pool so that Z could see me at all times. He started with feet in the water and then began to get in when Ms. Peggy asked him to, finally swimming with assistance - successful day (thanks to a very patient Ms. Peggy!!!) But we had catastrophe on the other side of the pool - right as A was getting out she swallowed some water and got choked. Quick reminder A has a REALLY good gag reflex and when I say really good I mean this is really bad! I could see she was coughing and through sign language with Ms. Dani I was able to determine that she'd swallowed some water, I got her out and sent her toward the bathroom. She didn't make it - blah! Thankfully it was on the side of the pool not IN the pool but still. I am convinced that I heard applause and some cheering as Z&A and I left the premises! Goodness - never a dull moment! Not complaining - just saying!

Right before swim lessons the FedEx man made Z's day -
delivering a present from G'ma Bonnie & G'pa John.
(look close you can see the watery eyes & bloody nose - sniff sniff)

I think he liked it!