As I stepped out of the car, the air was filled with the sounds of children wailing, “Mommy!” I walked around to the back passenger side, unbuckled my son from his car seat, and planted a kiss on his forehead. He clung to my shirt, pacifier still in his mouth, seemingly unfazed by the chaos around him. I grabbed his diaper bag and closed the car door behind us.
We approached the fence, and I unlocked the gate leading into the pool area. As we made our way along the red brick path, the swimming instructor greeted us from the water, busy with another child. I settled at a picnic table, placing my son on my lap. A fellow parent pointed me toward the file box of student folders, instructing me to find my child’s folder to fill out the necessary paperwork for the day.
Lessons ran every weekday for just 10 minutes, and we arrived 15 minutes early, following a routine that felt almost military. The instructor remained in the pool, while experienced parents guided new ones through the process. I completed the forms while my son observed the other kids, grinning as he took in the scene. I changed him into his swim suit, took off his shoes, and got the towels ready, all the while waiting for his lesson to begin.
Before my son’s turn, a little girl around two years old had screamed throughout her session. I couldn’t help but wonder how my son would react. Thankfully, at just six months, he wouldn’t be able to yell out “Mommy!” like that.
Moments later, the instructor signaled us over. I laid out two towels on the pool deck and settled my son down. His feet splashed into the water, and he began to kick joyfully. After reviewing the paperwork I had filled out, she picked him up and entered the pool. Initially, she got him wet while walking around, and he laughed, splashing his hands in delight.
Suddenly, she submerged him completely. My heart dropped into my stomach. I leaped to my feet as he emerged crying, clearly upset and searching for me. The instructor gently patted his back until he calmed down.
Watching him during those first few days was one of the toughest experiences of my parenting journey. Separated by the pool’s edge, I felt powerless to comfort him as he cried out for me. His expressions of distress broke my heart, yet I masked my worries with encouragement every time he glanced my way. I found solace in my decision to enroll him in swim lessons at such a young age. I knew these essential swimming survival skills could one day save his life.
Drowning is a silent threat; it can occur in just an inch of water within a minute. According to the CDC, drowning is among the leading causes of accidental death globally, especially for children and teens under 19. In the U.S., kids aged one to four experienced the highest rates of drowning during 2005 to 2009, making it the second leading cause of death in that age group.
By the end of the third day, to my surprise, my son had stopped crying altogether. It felt like he was reassuring me, recognizing the importance of learning these skills. By the end of the session, he “graduated” from the first level, mastering floating on his back and rolling over in the water, even while fully clothed. We would continue with refresher courses every six months to build on his skills.
Now at 5 ½ years old, my son thrives in the water and can’t recall those early lessons. He swims confidently and dives with joy. I believe that starting swimming lessons at such a young age empowered him. He developed body awareness, comfort in the water, and the self-confidence to explore new things.
Many thought it was outrageous to begin swimming lessons with my six-month-old, but I knew it was the right decision. I never wanted my son to become a statistic of drowning. It’s a preventable tragedy, and teaching him these survival skills, along with constant supervision and understanding water safety myself, was crucial.
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Summary:
In this reflective piece, a mother shares her experience of enrolling her son in swimming lessons, despite his initial resistance. She emphasizes the importance of teaching children swimming survival skills early on to prevent drowning, a leading cause of accidental death in young children. Through perseverance and encouragement, her son eventually learns to enjoy swimming, showcasing the benefits of early lessons.