Just keep swimming . . .

It seems that every spare moment we have had in the last couple of weeks has been spent in the pool. And, it is not all for fun, it is to LEARN fun. Need an explanation? It all started on Memorial Day weekend. Tate's best friend, Layton, was having a birthday pool party. We made a special trip to Walmart to pick out a swim vest so Tate could "swim" by himself. You see, last summer we failed to make this purchase and by the time we decided to buy the vest, it was too late and there wasn't one to be found. And I was NOT going to make that mistake again. Tate loved swimming last summer. He would jump off the side of the pool, hold his breath and go under. So, it never dawned on us that being out of a pool for 6-8 months would breed an unbelievable fear of swimming.

In these pictures, he looks like he is having a blast, and he was, as long as he was standing on the step, water only to his knees. But a simple suggestion to float around in the pool, he erupts into screaming and crying. So, we have made it our mission to teach Tate to love swimming. Because, really, what kid doesn't like swimming?

The good news is he is now "liking" the whole swim thing. I will not go so far as to say he loves it. But, it no longer takes hours to talk him into water that rises above his knees. He will float and swim by himself, and the look of sheer dread that was once on his face has transformed into "panicked fun". AND, if his friends are doing it, you can even talk him into sliding down the slide into the pool (complete with his head and face going under water). But, jumping from the sides? NOPE, not yet. Baby steps.