Jumping for Joy!

I have to admit, I was more than pleasantly surprised at how swim lessons turned out on Thursday. Both kids were naturals stepping up to the diving board and jumping off. Jacob had no fear and just walked up and jumped right in. Merrilee, who has expressed a very healthy concern regarding jumping into deep water, was a natural. I told her the diving board was like the vault in gymnastics and that she could run and jump at the end and spring into the water. So her first try, she just ran and jumped off the end. I was amazed! For her second try, she decided to run and spin in the air as she jumped. You can imagine, my jaw dropped. The photo is below. This is only her second time on a diving board over 12 feet of water.

I must say, I was expecting some scary faces and a little fear, and maybe even hoping to get a good picture of a little flash of fright on one of their faces, to no avail. Both my kids were valiant swimmers yesterday, and I am reeling in joy for them!

So we are all pleased with Merrilee and Jacob passing their starting levels after just two weeks of swim lessons. Merrilee will go into level 3 and Jacob into level 2. Now the tough stuff starts because both kids are entering into swimming levels where they will be challenged much more. Merrilee must master the butterfly stroke before she can move on to level 4. Since she only has two weeks to learn it this summer, she'll most likely not pass (I'm not going to hold her to high expectations on this...I was never taught to do this swim stroke, and it looks difficult to me!). I believe she'll pick up on level 3 next year when we start lessons again, unless I go crazy and decide to extend lessons and push my sanity envelope a little longer this summer.

Merrilee's very first diving board jump.

Jacob's second diving board jump.

And just for the record, Katie Mei has also been enjoying the baby pool and getting more comfortable being around lots of people during our two weeks of swim lessons. She's always been a little hesitant about walking too far away from me, and to play in the water without me standing right next to her was outside her comfort zone. But now she is able to play in the baby pool while I sit 15 feet away. She is growing so much, and it's great to see her become more comfortable in a larger social environment.

Thanks for letting me brag on my kids a little bit today. These little successes are some of the things about motherhood that bring me so much joy. Knowing my kids worked hard and endured, and successfully accomplished their goals without my help, is a goal accomplished for me!

Love,

Petrie