Saturday, June 06, 2009

The pool and swim lessons

We decided Ellie is going to take swim lessons. Last night we signed up for pool membership, and this morning we all had high hopes for Ellie signing up for swim lessons. I envisioned my darling daughter would gracefully enter the water. She would look at the life guards, smile brightly, and show them how well she handles the water. It didn't quite go like that.

First we took care of business, payment. Then we walked toward the pools. A life guard took her to the kiddie pool, which is small and only 3 feet deep with a ramp going into it. She had Ellie go down the ramp and at the bottom asked Ellie to dip her shoulders in the water. She refused. Another life guard got in with her, and still she refused. She also refused to let go of the railing. She even tried climbing it - which is a no no. She then climbed out of the pool and ran across the pool deck. She was told by several life guards not to run, and she referred unkindly to the one particular life guard who stopped her from running. More life guards got in with her as she went back down the ramp and again refused several more times to dip her shoulders, no matter what ploys the six life guards tried. I tried talking with her twice, to no avail. I finally took her out of the pool, and she started having a fit. I couldn't even dry her off, with all her fussing. I put her in a football hold and hauled her out to the car, kicking, hitting, and crying.

The life guard wisely enrolled Ellie in the beginner class, and Gary picked a swim lesson time.

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