As I stepped out of the car, the distressing sounds of children crying and calling for their mothers filled the air. I made my way to the back passenger door, unbuckled my son, and planted a kiss on his forehead as I lifted him from his car seat. He clung to my shirt and continued to suck his pacifier, seemingly oblivious to the commotion around him. After grabbing his diaper bag, I closed the car door behind us.
We approached the fence, where I unlocked the gate leading to the pool area. Walking along the red brick path, the swimming instructor welcomed us from the pool, where she was busy with another child. I settled at a picnic table, placing my son on my lap as another parent directed me to the file box. I was to locate my child’s folder, complete the necessary paperwork for the day, and deliver it to the instructor when it was time for his lesson.
The lessons occurred daily from Monday to Friday for a brief ten minutes, requiring us to arrive 15 minutes early. The routine was well-established; the instructor remained in the pool, and veteran parents often assisted newcomers like me.
I filled out the forms as my son observed the other children, smiling at everyone. He seemed content. I removed his shoes, changed him into his swim diaper and bathing suit, and got our towels ready. We waited off to the side until it was time for his lesson.
The little girl in the previous session, around two years old, had been screaming the entire time. The instructor, however, remained unfazed and continued with the lesson. In that moment, I found myself relieved that my son was just six months old and wouldn’t be uttering “mommy” amidst the chaos.
Moments later, the instructor signaled for us to come over. She instructed me to lay out two towels on the pool deck. I placed my son on the towels, and he began splashing his feet in the water, giggling and creating a mess. As she reviewed the paperwork I had just filled out, she prepared to take him into the pool.
At first, she gently walked him around the edge of the pool, wetting him as he gleefully splashed his hands. Then, without warning, she submerged him completely. At that instant, I felt a wave of helplessness wash over me. My heart plummeted as I leapt from my seat. My son resurfaced, wailing and clearly upset, searching for me. The instructor comforted him, patting his back as he managed to burp.
The initial days of observing swimming lessons were among the most challenging experiences of my parenting journey. I watched, powerless, as my son cried, his expressions pleading for my help while I could only offer encouragement through a forced smile. Yet, I took solace in my choice to start swim lessons at such a young age, knowing he would gain essential survival skills.
Drowning can occur in just an inch of water within a minute, often without any warning. It’s a silent threat, making it crucial for children to learn water safety. According to the CDC, drowning is one of the leading causes of accidental deaths, especially for children under 19. In the U.S., the highest rates of drowning fatalities from 2005 to 2009 were among children aged 1 to 4 years.
By the third day of lessons, my son no longer cried. It seemed he understood the importance of learning these survival skills, and I believe he actually began to enjoy the lessons. By the end of the session, he “graduated” to the first level, mastering skills such as floating on his back and rolling over in the water, even when fully clothed and with shoes.
Now at 5½ years old, my son loves swimming and has no recollection of his early tears. He is a confident swimmer and diver. I firmly believe that those early lessons empowered him, fostering body awareness and self-confidence in the water. While many were surprised by my decision to enroll my six-month-old in swim lessons, I knew it was the right path. I never wanted him to be part of a drowning statistic; after all, drowning is preventable through education, constant supervision, and learning water safety.
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In summary, while my child initially resisted swimming lessons, perseverance paid off. Through his experience, he gained essential life-saving skills, confidence in the water, and a love for swimming. As a parent, I learned the importance of being proactive in ensuring my child’s safety and well-being.