Well, That Never Happens

It's very rare in parenting (actually in Life) for me to make a decision and then realize that it was the *correct* decision. Although I spent a full week worrying that my enrolling Tai in the next level of swim lessons was going to be the Biggest Mistake Ever, it turned out to be a Fantastic Parenting Move.

We had no tears or anxiety on the way to swim class, though he did remember (and remind me of) his plan to simply sit on the edge and put his feet in. I said that was perfectly fine, but if he did decide to go in, I'd buy him anything he wanted out of the snack machine in the lobby of the YMCA. And I made sure that while we were checking in he perused the contents of said machine and picked out what he would get, if he went in the pool.

Apparently the promise of a 60-cent bag of Goldfish crackers goes a long way.

He made sure I told his teacher that he was feeling nervous and might just want to sit on the edge. She said that was perfectly fine with her, took him firmly by the hand, and led him over to the edge of the pool. He was already comfortable with this teacher, as she was the same one who taught Pike and Parent. I took my place on the bleachers.

Of the 5 kids she had lined up on the wall, Tai was the last one to get in the pool, but he did get in. And the next thing I knew, he was literally on the teacher's back, with his arms around her neck like a baby chimp. She taught the first 10 minutes of the class with an extra 30 lbs on her back!

And soon enough he was comfortable hanging onto the the wall, awaiting his turn to do whatever activity was next. Before the 30 minute class was over, he had jumped into the deep end and even tried a sitting dive -- both firsts for him. I was so proud I nearly cried.