Katherine, it’s
Spring Break and I have booked swimming lessons for you. You have done swimming
lessons before, but you never seemed to have great fun doing them. The first
year we did them, you were less than impressed when the instructor asked me to
turn you on your back and float you in the water. Last year, you were no longer
engaging in the class after you saw the instructor pull another child in the
class through the pool with his head under water for a short distance (there
was no way you would let that happen to you). So for the past year you have
gotten by quite well with little swim wings that helped you stay above water when
we were at a pool or on vacation – and you have even practiced the techniques
you learned in your classes… like blowing bubbles under water.
With summer
getting closer, a few weeks ago we talked about swimming and you mentioned you
can “almost” swim. Taking my window of opportunity, I suggested taking another
class which was met with a thoughtful pause from you after which you replied
that you don’t want your head dunked under water. I can relate to that – I don’t
like it either, but I knew mentioning that wouldn’t help my argument. So instead I asked you how we could solve
that – and you had obviously thought about this before, because without
hesitation your answer was “goggles”.
So here we are
today at your first day of lessons and on the drive to the class you reminded
me that you don’t want your head dunked under water. We talked about it and I
suggested that you could tell the teacher when we arrived. You did (and the
head instructor made sure to tell your instructor) and we also arranged for us
to go over to the goggle display where you were able to select a pair yourself
that we would purchase for you.
What a
difference that made! Knowing no one would ask you to go under water without
your permission and having your goggles firmly on your head made the class fun
for you. You even put your face under water a few times by yourself and when it
came time to jump into the water from the edge of the pool you went in with a
big splash (and climbed out and did it again!)
You are teaching
me that it’s important for all of us that our voice is being heard. Today your
little hand was holding mine so tight and it took all your courage to speak up
to an adult you didn’t really know. Your opinion was respected – you are still
little, but your thoughts and feelings are just as important. Today I saw you
stand up for yourself. I am very proud of you. I love you always and forever.
