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Noah held his breath underwater today!!!! Way to go Bubbs!
We call him Bubbs * when he was real small we would call him Bubbas ( yes with an s :) When I say 'we' I am talking about me and Sis. Daddy and Brothers call him.....Noah. (smile!)
Noah will be 4 next week and for the past 4 years bath time has been a struggle. We've tried everything, everything! He's not 'afraid' of the water he's just screamin' mad when it gets on his face * yeah even a drop. You read right, a drop. Believe me we've tried everything and we've said everything, time and time again.
We did Parent & Me classes in the pool when he was just a babe -- fun for the 1st class and then not so fun. So we stoppped going - I felt so bad for all the other lil' wanna be swimmers.
When he turned 3 we enrolled him in 'big boy' classes, um yeah he screamed, crazy scream! He wouldn't even dip his toes in the pool. But we stuck it out for the session.
We've always, even at 3, taught our kids that if they start something they need to finish it unless it's harmful to their physical, emotional or spiritual growth. And after the 2 times a week for 4 weeks was over I was feelin' like all 3 of those were harmed for me (wink!!)
Noah & I were exhausted. So we waited until he was 3 1/2.....yeah no luck then either. Not sure why I thought 6 months would make a "huge" difference. I assumed that when he was 5 we would try again :) Honestly that's what I thought.
But I decided to just ask him * and to throw in that Sis would be taking her swim class at the same time! Surprisingly, he said yes! He watched the clock all day today! I admit I was not looking forward to it -- at all. I thought more then once, 'E!?! what are you thinking?!?" Isn't that selfish of me? Well it is. And what I have to say about that is.......it is what it is or was, or however you say that and it's truth. I was dreading it -- he can really scream.
But fears aside * courage put to the test -- for both of us (wink!!) -- he proudly walked off with his new swim teacher! I watched waiting for him to stop walking and start crying but to my EXCITED surprise! He went out on deck! Then I held my breath, knowing that he was next in line to take a little shower. Phew! No fussin'!!!! Oh my goodness!!! He's doing great!
I watched my little guy, go in the pool with a HUGE smile! He was having so much fun!!!! I couldn't believe it! He was a splashin' and kickin'! All with a smile! And then the best part came -- his teacher brought the class to the toddler pool to play for the last 5 minutes of class and I watched our not so little anymore Noah hold his breath and go under the water! At first I gasped (I really did gasp!) not allowing myself to accept the fact that he meant to do it -- but then he did it again and again and then I saw him get his teacher's attention and say, 'watch me!' and he did it one more time.
I don't want my kids to be Olympic Gold Medalists in swimming, if they don't want to be. I do however want my kids to be able to swim to the edge of a pool or dock if they were ever to be pushed in or loose their balance and fall in. That's all I want. I don't want them to be afraid of water, I do want them to respect water, but not be 'afraid' of it.
When Noah was all done I couldn't wait to see him and tell him how proud I was/am of him!!!!
"Did you see me??" he said, all wrapped cute in his froggy towel. "I held my breath!!!!"
" I did!" I exclaimed as I swooped him up in my arms to give him a big hug!! "I'm so proud of You Son! You were so brave!"
"Yeah," he said, "I'm not a baby like Elijah anymore. I'm big like Luke and Isaiah!"
And now the never - ending drama has ended.
WAY TO GO BIG KID! |
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