He's also been expressing anxiety over the idea of moving on to the Pike/Eel class, which would require him to go into the pool without me. At first I was horrified at the thought of having to force him to do something that scares him, and potentially cause him to fear swimming altogether. I told him we'd talk about it and decide later which class to sign up for, mentally resigning myself to 6 more weeks of having to remember to shave my legs for Freakin' Swim Class.
But then the more I thought about it, the more I wondered if this might be the time to push him beyond his comfort zone. And the more I thought about the fact that the Pike and Parent class is only offered at one seriously inconvenient time slot, the more I convinced myself the right thing to do was to sign him up for the next level.
So I did. Behind his back.
Last week as we were leaving, he overheard talk of the time slot change for next week and started crying and pleading with me. "Mama, I don't want the class without the parents! Don't make that plan! That's not my decision!"
Needless to say, I felt horrible for having gone behind his back and signed him up for something I knew he was afraid to try. I tried to say, "Oh, let's not worry about that until next week." But he insisted we have it out, right there in the parking lot of the YMCA. So we talked it through and we've made a plan.
This Saturday I will not be going in the pool. But he might not either. He's agreed to sit on the edge and put his feet in and consider going in, if he feels comfortable. If not, I told him he can just watch for the first week and then go in the second week. To which he replied, "Or maybe after 3, or 4, or 5 weeks." Smart kid.
Will this be the right path? Is this just the little extra nudge he needs to feel more confident? Or will this destroy his self-esteem, make him question his trust for his mother, and instill in him a fear of water? I guess we'll wait and see.....
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