Swimming Lesson

When I was fifteen, I had an opportunity to teach swimming lessons.  It was a 3 week program, through our town's Recreation Department.   School buses transported us to the city,closest to us.   I was told, it was a volunteer program.  We could have time to swim, after teaching the program.  I loved swimming...  This city had an outdoor pool at their park and indoor high school pool for their swim team.  My high school didn't have either.  I was thrilled, but really had no clue what I signed up for.   I remember the first day, vividly.  Children ages 4  and up.   We were giving a brief class on how to instruct, what to do, what not to do.   Remember this is suppose to be fun, safety first, etc.  A blur of hot pink, lime green, neon orange and blue stripes approached, lots of loud laughter  the smell of chlorine and humidity filled the air.  I had 5 children, a brother n' sister, ages 7 and 4, a tall girl, about 10, a lively jumping bean boy, 9 and a older child, that assured me, she could swim, but wanted to learn to float.   The parents had signed them up and listed their swimming skills or lack of.    I was kicked, pinched and poked the first day, was it really worth, the 20-30 of free time to swim?  I wondered what had I done; I continued on and grew to love the lessons and the kids.

  I was given a clipboard, it listed what each child had to learn to advance to the next level.  I had a hovering Dad, he was the father to the brother n' sister.   The boy was anxious and loved the water.  The girl, didn't want to do anything, but sit on the side of the pool and kick.   Every day, one of the assistants to the Rec. Director,would give me the look.  Later on, I was told, you have to get her in the water.   I knew this, but I also had talked to the Dad.  I had tried...   He was a widower, the children missed their Mother and his little girl, had not always been this shy.    I decided for the only way for this to work was for her to see how much fun it was.  See, what she was missing.  I would have the kids be a group, for 10min.  We would practice kicking and splashing, seated on the edge of the pool, before their solo lessons.   I had those willing to get in the pool hang on and practice kicking under the water, like mermaids and fish.    I showed them what to do, if they had water in their eyes, etc.   Every day, one of the other instructors would come by and try to take her, thinking maybe it was me.  Every day, she said, "No".   Day 5, I asked her if she was ready to have fun, be like a mermaid and she hugged me and we went in the pool.  There wasn't any kicking.  Just her and I, gliding in the water, bouncing her up and down, having fun.   Later, I was given a lot of kudos, for my efforts.   I didn't push or grab her; she felt comfortable with me.   She was swimming, by the end of the lessons.   It amazes me,  how some of us need a shove, a push and others, don't thrive in this time of environment.   We need encouragement, a bit of time to breath and decide, when it is time for us to begin.    Perhaps, some of us need a bit of both....  I think I come from the both camp, but , prefer not to be shoved.  I tend to do better with kind gestures.

I recently opened an Etsy store, I am treading in unfamiliar waters; I needed to get in the pool.  I had sat pool side, to long.  I was fearful, but also filled with joy that I finally began...    What methods work for you, when it comes to jumping in and taking the plunge?!