As I opened the car door, the air filled with the sounds of children wailing for their mothers. I made my way to the back passenger side, unbuckled my son, and gently kissed his forehead while lifting him from his car seat. He clung to my shirt and sucked on his pacifier, seemingly unfazed by the chaos around him. I grabbed his diaper bag and closed the car door behind us.
Approaching the fence, I unlocked the gate leading into the pool area. As we walked along the red brick path, the swimming instructor greeted us from the water, busy with another child. I settled onto a picnic bench, placing my son on my lap. A fellow parent pointed me to a file box filled with folders, instructing me to locate my child’s folder, complete the necessary paperwork, and hand it to the instructor when his lesson began.
The lessons, scheduled daily from Monday to Friday, lasted 10 minutes each, with a requirement to arrive 15 minutes early. It became a routine—the instructor remained in the pool at all times, and experienced parents offered guidance to newcomers.
As I filled out the forms, my son watched other children, smiling and enjoying the atmosphere. I changed him into his swim diaper and bathing suit, and we sat together, waiting for his lesson to commence. The little girl in the prior lesson, around two years old, had cried throughout her session. I sighed with relief, thinking that my son, at just six months, would likely not scream for me.
When the instructor finally called us over, she directed me to lay out two towels on the pool deck. I placed my son on the towels, and he eagerly splashed his feet in the water. The instructor reviewed the paperwork I had filled out before she picked him up and took him into the pool. Initially, she walked with him around the edge, letting him get accustomed to the water. He giggled and slapped his hands, splashing joyfully.
Then, without warning, she submerged him completely. In that moment, I felt an overwhelming sense of helplessness. My heart dropped, and I leapt from my seat as he surfaced, screaming and clearly unhappy. He searched for me, and the instructor patted his back, trying to comfort him.
The first few days of watching his swimming lessons were among the toughest moments of my parenting journey. I was unable to console him while he cried, and seeing his distressed expressions as he looked toward me was heart-wrenching. I masked my worries with a smile, cheering him on with every glance in my direction. Ultimately, I found solace in my decision to enroll him in swim lessons at such a young age. I knew that learning survival skills could potentially save his life.
Drowning is a silent threat that can occur in just an inch of water within seconds. According to the CDC, it is one of the leading causes of accidental death, especially among children and adolescents under 19. From 2005 to 2009, children aged 1 to 4 had the highest rates of drowning fatalities, with drowning being the second most common cause of death for this age group.
By the end of the third day of lessons, my son had stopped crying altogether. It felt as if he was reassuring me that he understood the importance of learning these survival skills. He seemed to enjoy his lessons, and by the end of the session, he had “graduated” to the first level. He learned to float on his back, roll over if face down in the water, and even managed to roll over and float while fully clothed, including a diaper and shoes. We would need to return every six months for refresher courses and annually to build upon his skills.
Now, at 5 and a half years old, my son loves swimming and has no recollection of those initial tears from his first lessons. He is a confident swimmer and diver. I believe that starting swim lessons so early empowered him, teaching him body awareness and fostering comfort in the water, while boosting his self-confidence to tackle new challenges.
While many thought I was crazy for enrolling my baby in swimming lessons at such a young age, I knew in my heart that it was the right decision. I wanted to ensure my son would never become a drowning statistic. Drowning is preventable with the right skills, constant supervision, and a commitment to learning water safety. For those interested in family building options, this excellent resource can provide further guidance: Resolve.
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In summary, despite my child’s initial reluctance towards swimming lessons, I remained steadfast in my decision to enroll him. Through persistence and dedication, he not only overcame his fear but also learned crucial swimming skills that will benefit him for a lifetime.