I'd say that's a success!
Intrepid former pool manager, Nick, whom I've now learned has been replaced by an Israeli Olympic synchronized swimmer, finally managed to call me back last week to tell me the classes had already started but we could still join. Really on top of his game, that one. Mr. "don't use that GoPro in here" was already not at the top of my list so I can't say I'm sorry to see him go.
I am thrilled that Tempest took to the water today just as much as she did during her demo with Erin a month-and-a-half ago. There were two other babies; sweet Maddie, 11 months, whose mother, Jessica, was born and raised in Highland Park and is a teacher in Kendall Park, and Clara, a pudgy, adorable 7 month old with both mom and dad, Gina and Luke, in tow. There was a toddler boy who came late named Jake and he was Hanna Andersson model beautiful -- total stunner. I may have creeped his mom out starting at him. It was a pretty good-looking class, if I do say so.
The instructor's name is Ben and he also happens to be the youth swim team coach. They meet immediately before the baby class so he apologized for always having to start a bit after 11:00. This just means we get a little free playtime before the structured playtime so no complaints there. I call him Gentle Ben in my head because he's young, probably younger than me, and very sensitive and sweet with the babies. I detected a hint of hesitancy when I told him Tess was 6 months and he said that's the youngest baby he's ever had in class but when I reassured him that she loved her demo, he seemed relieved.
No screamers in this class! In fact, no tears or fussing at all during the entire 30 minutes. Maddie swallowed a ton of water on one of her dives but once she coughed it out, she was totally unfazed. Clara is a champion kicker, Jake did his own thing, mostly, away from the little ones, and Tess was just happy as could be. She loves jumping in. I hold her as she "stands" on the edge and then I send her sailing up into the air, secure in my arms, landing with a big splash feet first. She laughs her head off and kicks her legs in glee to do it over and over again. Her joy was infectious.
There's not much instructing at this age, obviously, but our job is to get our little ones comfortable in the water. Looking around, I'd say mission accomplished. The more time she spends in the pool, the easier it will be to take her to other pools and bigger bodies of water. Once Tess masters floating, she can move onto kicking like Clara and then using a noddle tied around her belly like Maddie. (We tried the noodle and failed. She just wanted to eat it, face first, in the water. ha!)
After practicing our entries, back floating, belly floating, and a variety of baby holds, we gathered in a circle for singalong time. Wait -- what? This is swim class. I tried desperately to recall the verses to some kiddie favorites but this wasn't Music Together where they give you a song book ahead of time to study. Ooof. I did my best and basically just launched Tess in the air at the appropriate parts of "The Wheels on the Bus." Duly noted for next time: learn more nursery rhymes and do not make up your own stupid lyrics.
The singing marked the official end of class but we get ten minutes of free swim after. Tess really enjoyed spinning in circles while partially submerged. At one point, I think she got a little dizzy, as her eyes went from wild delight to unfocused panic, like a kid about to puke on a thrill ride, so I slowed it down a bit. She was all smiles and squeals throughout, though.
All in all, Tess and I were in the pool for about 45 minutes. That's a good long time to make her glassy-eyed with exhaustion. I honestly thought she was going to fall asleep when I was floating her with her head against my chest. Once we got back into the women's locker room, she actually did fall asleep. As I was changing her. This was unprecedented. She woke up at home, only to feed, and then has now been out for nearly 2.5 hours. WOOHOO SWIMMING!
The physical experience of buoyancy is at once peaceful and exhilarating. I can't wait to share swim class with Rhett next Saturday. Viewing something as commonplace as a pool through my daughter's brand new eyes forces me to stop and marvel at her fearlessness and instinctual ability to hold her breath underwater without ever having experienced it outside the womb. Babies truly are a wonder.
I'll leave you with this. Tell me you can stay dry-eyed during this song and I will not believe you...
No comments:
Post a Comment