Brant tackles swim lessons

A few weeks ago Brant said he wanted to take swim lessons.  We agreed, having meant to do it last summer, but you know how those summers with newborns are...things tend to slip by.   We immediately started asking around, and had heard of Janet Flemming already, so, coming highly recommended, we signed him up. 

First of all, she's an elementary school teacher, who does this during the summer (you know we love teachers!).  Second, she's done this for 33 years.  Third, she's Christian and not afraid of it. It's on her website, and they start each lesson with Philippians 4:13 and a prayer for safety.  Yep.  We really liked that. 

For one week, we dropped Brant off at the pool.  She uses her friends' pools, so it's different each week.  There were about 12 in his class, and 3 additional helpers.  Brant was one of the older ones, and defininetly one of the tallest!  In the words of another student, "Brantley was number one swimmer!"  Makes us proud that he was a good listener, and used the time wisely. 

Now, most Moms will tell you, the kids will hate the lessons up until about day 3.  Brant was nervous, but didn't hate them.  He was really worried about going off the diving board.  Can I blame him? no.  You see, this Mommy hasn't gone off one either. I know, I know!!!

Anyway, the week ended today and we got to go out for a "show off" lesson.  Janet had the kids show us all they had learned, and helped us to see how to continue to help them.  So proud of that boy!

Playing Ring around the Rosy , "splashes splashes we all fall down!" and they go underwater

Henry really wanted to get in the water

the water was "really really cold" according to Brantley

off the side....

and across the pool!  the deep end, may I add!

Proud of this boy!

And his moment of triumph!

He kind of just bounced off, but off none the less!

Splash!

look at that face in the water!

Listening about pool safety

tell me that isn't a teacher face! :-)

Showing us how to rescue someone who fell in

Rescuing the instructor

And another student

And the instructor out of reach...throwing a kickboard

and the raft

Fear, not this boy.  Just cold. 

The safety part was really stressed to the kids. How to help, how to look for the signs, what to do.  And those with siblings were especially reminded to help pay attention to them in the water. 

A great week, full of nervous tummies sometimes, but Brant tackled them. We are proud of him for doing something that he decided he "really didn't want to do now."  And so, Daddy and Brant decided that since he had to go off the diving board, so do I.  To be continued! :-)