We first started swim lessons with Jelly Beans on her 6th birthday. She would scream in the shower whenever I washed her hair. She hated getting her face wet!
But living on a Pacific Island where water was everywhere we believed ALL children should learn to swim as soon as possible, for their own safety. So off to swimming she went. Within one and a half years she was on a swim team competing and winning ribbons. She was a fish!!!
Wiggles and Kiwi Boy promptly followed and took to the water just as quick. Wiggles was swimming 25m lengths at four and Kiwi Boy did his first 25m length when he was only three years old.
When our younger kids came home from their orphanage last year Warrior showed some interest in swimming. So after visiting friend's pools, swimming at the lake, and a few lessons from Jelly Beans he had the skills to join Kiwi Boy at the competitive pool.
The three youngest however were too busy squealing and holding their noses that they were barely getting wet.
So this summer we invested in a pool. A simple above ground, take it down for the winter, not much bigger than a wading pool, freezing cold, wet, splash zone, pool.
And now we have three more swimmers!
After a few lessons from Coach Jelly Beans one may even graduate to competitive swimming this winter!
In just a couple of weeks she went from standing in the corner, arms folded, with her back to the others, shouting "STOP! STOP!" at the top of her lungs to swimming with breathing.
I am so proud of her and the others for overcoming their fears and learning to enjoy the water!
Time for another swim...
Mumzy
How cool is that! Looks like everyone is having fun swimming too :)
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