Jake's First Swim Lesson

Jake is getting to be such a big boy! He'll be 2 1/2 on Sunday. Taking him to swim lessons today reminded me how big he's getting and how fast it's going. Danny and I were tripping all night over the fact that he's in swim lessons, talking so much, growing taller, counting...someone make him stop growing right now.

Back to the purpose of this post: his first swim lesson was today! We signed him up at Water Safe Swim School in Seal Beach, and he'll be going once a week. We arrived a little early, and Jake sat on the bench nervously watching the kids swim in the pool. He looks a little skeptical in this picture:

There is a little sectioned off area where kids can play on the steps while they wait for the instructor to start their lesson, but Jake did not want to join them. When it was time for Jake's lesson to start, Mr. Geoff helped him into the water and that's when the wailing began! He basically cried for the next 15 minutes straight. 

His instructor was great with him, though! Would continue on with the lesson, having him dunk underwater, trying different toys to engage him, teaching Jake to hold onto the railing on the little floating platforms scattered around the pool. Jake was terrified every time Mr. Geoff let him go, he wanted him to hold him the whole time. Towards the end, the instructor just held Jake, told him to "hug" him, and Jake calmed down and rested his head on Mr. Geoff's shoulder. They floated around in the pool like that for several minutes, and soon Jake was giving him high fives and giving half smiles. When it was time for Jake to get on the floating device, he happily got on and kicked his legs as they swam towards me and the girls on the pool deck.

See? No more tears!

Jake LOVES the water, but his reaction today didn't surprise me. It takes my boy a long time to get used to new things, but I know sooner than later he'll be hopping in that pool and eager to learn.