Lessons coming along SWIMMINGLY!!

I've been teaching swim lessons 2x a week at my friend's pool, on and off, all summer. It's been very fun and fulfilling, especially when I stop to think about how much my kids are enjoying it! Everyone is improving as swimmers and two of my 5 year-old's swam the whole length of the pool, back and forth, BY THEMSELVES for the first time last week. I was so proud! (one was KATRINA!!)

I teach 3-4 classes a week, with a total of 19 "students"(5 of the kids are my own, and 5 are my nieces and nephews). My favorite is the 3-4 year old class. I enjoy watching their confidence and love of the water increase.

My shy, quiet niece Mary has made HUGE progress. Before lessons started, she really wasn't very comfortable with me at all. When we started lessons, her mom had to sit by her, while she went into the "Big Bath." Lessons were kept short and tears would sometimes come quickly.

Now, Mary runs to lessons, and jumps in the water, with no hesitation. She comes up to me at family parties, wanting to talk about her lessons, and her life. She and I are TIGHT. She came in my car to play at my house the other day, even! I am really grateful that I've had some time this summer to develop my relationships with my nieces and nephews, especially Mary.

My nephew Marcus, is the BIGGEST FISH!! Unfortunately, he has no concept of PERSONAL SAFETY!! I ALWAYS watch him out of the corner of my eye because he constantly jumps in and begins his descent to the bottom. I fish him out of the drink about 3x per lesson, and he's laughing his head off, not realizing his own craziness! I think he'll be off to the Olympics, soon (or the morgue!)

Editor's Note: OK, so I wrote this post last week, and yesterday, during lessons, Marcus never once tried drowning himself. I think his Mommy talked some safety sense into him!

My littlest class is so eager and fun to teach. They like all my silly games and listen to my instructions well. We really do have a good time! If my ambition/life goal to be the Library Story Time Lady never pans out, I still have 3-4 year-old swim lessons to fall back on . . .

My other nephew, Ash, works so hard during lessons and then plays equally hard, during free time, with his jacket on, sometimes he needs a rest!

Ben likes to rest too, although, not because he actually does any work. Of all the littlest students I have, he's the one progressing the least. He still won't put his face in the water or really try and learn to swim at all. He has fun and isn't afraid, and that's all I care about. Next year, I'll pay for him to go to city lessons and he'll get a teacher that's a little tougher on my baby, than I am!!

I took my kids and their cousins swimming on Saturday, with their Grandpa Idiart in tow. I told Ash, "We're not having lessons today, it's just free time." He said, "YEAH!! It's like a CELEBRATION!!" He is so cute. Damian worked on our house, with his brother-in-law and I actually did some parenting (although is WAS A SATURDAY!!)

Miss Mary came later, with her Mommy. They swam around and Mary enjoying her Grandpa, too. She swam for an hour, then got out, dressed and sat, watching all the cousins splash around. I watched her, while I was still in the water. She made eye contact with me and put down her baggie of goldfish. And then . . . she was jumping into my arms, no warning or anything. . . fully dressed! I caught her above the water and she didn't get wet. That was about the funniest part of my day! I'm glad she enjoys swimming AND ME, so much! Fun day with the kids.