Alyssa's First Swimming Lesson

[LadyJag]

Today was Alyssa's first day in the Infant Swim Resource program (www.infantswim.com). The lesson is scheduled from just 5:20pm-5:30pm, and even though 10 minutes doesn't seem like a long time, I am EXHAUSTED!

Whew! So I've had to change my office hours to begin earlier and end later in order to accommodate the daily swim lessons for the next 4-6 weeks. At 4:30, I got Alyssa up from her nap, changed her into her disposable swim diaper, put her in her swimsuit with a built-in washable diaper, sprayed her with sun screen, and carted her off to the swimming lesson, which is thankfully, only a 20 minute drive.

The instructor was very nice, but Alyssa went into shy mode and didn't want to get into the water with her. So I let her walk down the steps into the pool, and after a little coaxing, got Alyssa to a step where the instructor could gently carry her over to the side wall of the pool. Immediately, Alyssa started to cry.

"It's ok, Alyssa!" I said, "You're doing great! Look at you being a big girl," I cheered, clapping my hands. I felt like an idiot, and Alyssa continued to cry, but at least she wasn't wailing and throwing a fit.

Her first lesson, Alyssa learned how to grab the pool wall, did GREAT at holding her breath and keeping her eyes open under water, and learned to kick her feet. No matter what angle the instructor held Alyssa, Alyssa was able to turn in the water and grab the wall. "I'm so proud of you, Alyssa!" I cheered sincerely. 

Since Alyssa kept crying and pointing back to the steps, at the end of the lesson, as sort of a "reward," the instructor let Alyssa kick her feet and swim to the top step. I took her out, lay her on her left side for a while, and dried her off. Back at the car, I changed her, put her into some clean dry clothes, and drove her back home, where I signed back into work.

The first lesson is not quite over yet, though. Every day, I have to record what Alyssa ate, when she slept, and when she poops and pees. When we get to the pool, I have to fill out a status chart of her eating habits and activity levels, while I try to make sure that Alyssa doesn't run off and get hurt.

Sigh! Ok. Enough whining. I knew it was going to take a lot of time and money ($105 registration fee, $65/weekly fee) when I first started, and I am still convinced that it is all worth it! I just hope that by the middle of next week, I'll have found my groove and established some sort pattern.

[christinas3grls]

Jun. 2, 2008 at 6:38 PM I am going to wait to see how it turns out with her to see if it is worth it because I have 2 to pay for!  LOL!  I am glad she did so well though! 

[mamakate1981]

Jun. 2, 2008 at 6:39 PM wow that is alot!! I would think the registration would be enough to pay! But if she ends up liking it and you like it-then it will so be worth it!! She will swimming in no time!

[klane24]

Jun. 2, 2008 at 8:21 PM WoW! I did not know all of that went into it.  I am going to wait until you are finished and see how it turns out. Either way it will be a good investment.  She seemed to learn alot in only 10 min.