Swim Class

Thanks to Jane Anne and her wonderful ideas, I enrolled Ryan in Swimming Lessons. He is not real, shall we say, comfortable in the water. But I thought it would be a good learning experience. The first 3 lessons his little voice resonated across the huge swim class building, "I want my Momma". His teacher assessed that he is indeed not afraid of the water AT ALL, he just doesn't want to leave me. Not sure how that is suppose to make me feel, but anyway. On the 4th lesson, in desperation, I did something I would never do... I bribed him with a treat. It went something like this, "if you are very brave and don't scream and cry, you can have a treat." Worked like a champ! I hope to not make this a habit but it just absolutely amazed me to see what motivates him. He was so brave and had a great time in class and was so proud of himself. I too was very proud. So much in fact that as I was watching him from the bleachers, I saw him go under water for the first time, I felt myself lift off the bleachers to my feet, I was clapping and crying like a crazed Mom. I came to my senses to look around and see all of the other parents amused by my display of proudness. I don't know a single one of them and I didn't care to much. For we are making great strides. Thank you Lord, I love being a parent.

The moral of this story...never underestimate the power of a treat. Just make sure to use it only when it is absolutely necessary.