We took lessons from the same place this year. An old swimming coach in the area has a team of college swimmers that meet up at someone’s pool and teach the kids to swim. It is everyday for a week. The first day, there are LOTS of tears. We went through that last year, but luckily no tears this year.

By the end of the week… every kid there is swimming. Its not always pretty, and its definitely lacking some coordination. But at least they could probably swim to the side if they fell in. In fact that is one of the first lessons they teach, if you fall in, turn around and swim to the side.

By the end of the week, Ava was swimming across the pool. She’s been a fish at our pool ever since. She’s now doing handstands on the bottom of the pool, diving for diving sticks, and just swimming her little heart out.

And Olivia did great too! This was her first year and I had to really push a little to get her in. They don’t like to start them until they are three. I explained that she really NEEDS swimming lessons because she thinks that she CAN already swim. She will walk right up to the edge of the pool, and jump in… only to promptly sink. Luckily, we know this and haven’t let her near the edge of water without us there. But if you have met this little spit fire, then you know that there needed to be another plan.

So, we convinced them and off she went. Her little doggie paddle swim under the water is about the cutest thing EVER, so I will have to get some video up for you.

She really lucked out since she was the youngest; she got the head coach to herself the whole week (pink hat). Since her lessons she jumps in and swims her little heart out at our pool. Finally, something that can wear her down!