Swimming Lessons for Mary Kate

Last summer, Mary Kate loved the pool and we decided that she was old enough to take her first set of swimming lessons.  We signed her up for the Pike class at the YMCA.  This class was made up of beginning swimmers from ages 3-5.  Mary Kate was the youngest in her class of five students.  Their class met monday, wednesday, and friday for two consecutive weeks.  We signed Mary Kate up to take the middle two weeks of June.

When we first told her that she was going to take lessons, she was excited, but that all changed when we got there the first day.  The first day was very cool and rainy and Mary Kate was cold and fussy!  She did not want to sit with her class because she wanted to be wrapped up in a towel to keep warm...I couldn't blame her!  I really thought that her tears had to do mostly with the weather and expected them to go away on Wednesday, but I was wrong.  Wednesday was beautiful and not too hot that it was miserable.  Mary Kate still wanted to sit with me and be wrapped in a towel, even though the weather was not bad.  She would fuss every time it was her turn to swim with her teacher Mr. Robby.

After this lesson, I got her talking and realized that she was afraid of Mr. Robby, because she didn't know him, and more importantly afraid that he would drop her.  David and I both talked to her and tried to reassure her that everything was fine, that I was there, and that Mr. Robby would not let her fall. Even after our talk, Friday was still bad and we even discussed not taking her back for week two, but I really wanted her to get past her fear.  This is what we were dealing with...

Monday was a totally different experience.  Mary Kate did fuss, but only when it was time for her to swim.  When it was her turn, she would get in with Mr. Robby and do what he asked her to do, but would cry the whole time.  As soon as she was out of the water she would stop crying.  Wednesday was like a totally different child was there.  She sat on the side of the pool with her classmates the entire time and didn't cry at all.  Friday was even better.  We were very proud of her by the end of the week.  She came a long way!

This experience seemed to be traumatic for Mary Kate, and that is not what we intended, but in the end she was fine and grew in her swimming abilities.  We plan to try again next summer, as well as continue to work with her on our own.  I think she just might be able to swim on her own next summer!