You want me on that wall...you need me on that wall

By The Dad

We have enrolled Abigail in swim classes. Now, this isn't your happy-time-splash-in-the-water-with-daddy-and-toys swim classes. This is the we're-here-to-save-your-life-in-case-of-emergency swim classes. We have finished week 1...let me tell you how tough it is.

I have been preparing for this by talking to a couple friends and spending HOURS at http://www.isrswim.com and related links and websites. I have done a LOT of mental preparation: Abigail will cry, she will scream, you will want to hit the teacher, you will want to end the lessons after 2 of them. I've heard it all, so I have prepared myself.

First of all, the YMCA rocks. It's about $100 less than private lessons. I have prepared myself to give other reasons, but really, $100 is a lot of money. That's actually a few rounds of golf for me.

Day 1: I give Abigail to Ms. Jen for lessons. She starts crying immediately (Abigail, not Ms. Jen). All she does is get Abigail to hang on to the pool wall. All goes well, except for the fact that Abigail is crying and screaming throughout the entire lesson.

Day 2: I give Abigail to Ms. Jen. She starts crying immediately. Today, Abigail is training to find the wall, by turning around in the water.

Day 3: Right before I give Abigail to Ms. Jen, she starts crying. The lesson is to begin to kick and maybe propel herself toward the wall.

Day 4: Abigail sees Ms. Jen, waves 'hi', then starts crying. This lesson proves Abigail can kick and propel herself toward the wall.

The Cons: At the same time as this one-on-one class with Abigail, there is a group class going on. This group class just happens to be the happy-time-splash-in-the-water-with-mommy-and-daddy-and-toys swim class. While they are all having fun and their babies are laughing and having a great time, I'm on the side of the pool cheering on and saying "great job" while my daughter is screaming bloody hell and feeling like she is dying. I can only imagine the other parents thinking 'what a monster'. I also remember one of my early memories of swim classes:

I was the swim champ because we all had water wings. With water wings, I could do anything: kick, paddle, you know...well, I guess that WAS everything with water wings. Well, I remember the day we had to prove we could doggy paddle. The teacher took me out to the middle of the pool. "No problem" I thought, "I have my water wings, bring it on!" Well, once I was in the middle of the pool, the teacher took off my water wings. "What the...." I thought. And then I began screaming, crying, and kicking for my life...I was dying out there. What made it worse is that I remember the scene pool-side. Oh yes, the masochistic parents all there smiling and cheering for me as I slowly drowned. And, wait..is that...is that my mom, too? Cheering on my death? Well, it turns out I was actually doggy paddling, but I remember how much it sucked. All I can think of is Abigail having the same memory of me: 'Daddy, why are you cheering and clapping while I am dying??? You suck!!!'

The Pros: After the 10 minute lesson, Abigail needs to lie on her left hand side and relax. I use this time to cuddle with her and tell her how proud I am of her and help her relax. This is one of the best moments I have with her. Here it is: my little girl doing something that is EXTREMELY difficult for her, but she's doing it. She's working very hard in that water, and pushing herself, and she's succeeding. In those few minutes on the towel there, I tell her exactly how I feel and give her kisses, and play peek-a-boo until she's relaxed. Right there is one of the best feelings in the world.

Today, I asked Ms. Jen how Abigail was doing; if she was doing well for her first week. "Oh, she's doing great. She's doing great for a second week student, actually." Wha? For a second week student? "Yes, she's kicking underwater. That's normally something we have to spend time on because you can't just say 'kick' and baby understands."

YOU DAMN RIGHT!!!! THAT'S MY GIRL!!! I am so proud of her. She's pushing herself through screams and crying and she's doing a great job to boot. Just doing it is a testament to how strong she is; but to do it well, now that's awesome. Abigail does mean "my father's joy".