We had two sessions of our private swimming lessons this week. The twins did awesome. We initially joined the Y because I really, really wanted the kids to take swim lessons. The cost was the same to join and pay for swim lessons at the members price, or pay for non-member lessons. It just made sense to join and be able to take advantage of everything they have to offer. Emilynn excelled at the swim lessons, but Carson retreated each week. Some weeks he did not even join the class, he just sat with me and watched. The teacher and I discussed him many times and she is so sweet. She really never gave up asking him to join the class. A few times he would ease over near them and join in, but most times he did not. He is my child that I fear being in a traditional classroom setting. He just tends to retreat when there's a group. He would many times be off to the side of the swim class playing to himself. He did the same thing at the lake.
Anyway, we discussed trying private lessons for him. They are much, much more expensive, but honestly, I wanted to give him every chance to excel at swimming like his sister. That may sound crazy, but in my opinion, swimming is not a matter of being just another "activity" the kids are involved in. I really believe swimming is a skill everyone should know for safety reasons.
Dustin and I discussed it, and decided we would sign him up for private lessons. It really wasn't even that big of an expense when you consider what we pay for Emilynn's dance lessons. I talked with the teacher and she told me for the private lessons, they could actually both come for the same price. I decided we'd try that, and so far it's been great! She can work with one child, while the other takes a little break, and she just alternates between the two. Carson, who cannot stand water in his face at all-even for bathtime, put his head underwater twice yesterday at the second lesson! I could not believe it! I am SO PROUD of him! He is really shining at the private lessons. Don't get me wrong, he is still super-cautious and very reserved, but he is making huge strides I know he would not have made during the group class. Emilynn is also doing excellent. She swam really well on her back yesterday. She sunk each time going forward-but backwards the girl is practically swimming. I think I had this huge goofy smile on my face the whole class. I was just so proud of my kiddos! :-) I couldn't have been happier if they were at the Summer Olympics winning the Gold in swimming. I really couldn't have. I am finding such joy in my kids, even at the littlest accomplishments! I know everyone is tired of hearing me talk about how well they did this week during swimming lessons!
Carson especially made me proud because he is like a different child with the one on one attention. His shyness/reservations is always a topic of discussion at different times. I have had people tell me I should push him and get him over it. I have to say, I can't think of anything more traumatic. I honestly don't plan to "force" him to do anything. I would rather just encourage him as he goes along, but I won't force him into situations that I think give him true anxiety. If he just needs a little push, I will encourage him and push a little. I won't force him though for a couple of reasons. For one thing, Dustin is very quiet and shy a lot of the time, so he gets it naturally. Dustin is not a fan of crowds either, Carson is truly the spitting image of him. As Carson nears school age, I can just see him in a class room retreating to the side and getting lost in the shuffle. Emilynn is the opposite- she's GOING to make sure she's noticed. I don't want him slipping through the cracks. I will do what I can to make sure he has the best situation for HIM to excel. I guess this week's just proven to me what I already know. Carson CAN learn the exact same thing as Emilynn and excel just like her at things. He just may need a different setting (private lessons vs. group), and he may need a little more time. There is nothing wrong with it, as each child is so very different. What I won't do is insist they both do things the same- as they are individuals even though they are twins. I also don't think group activities are for everyone, and I don't think a traditional school setting is the "end all be all" for learning and being successful in life. I guess my point in all this is basically what everyone already knows- different people learn best in different ways at different paces, and that's okay! I will go forward with an open mind but I will do what I feel is best for my kids in each situation, as I know them best. That was proven to me by Carson's HUGE smile at me from the pool and his little thumb's up he kept giving me during his class. That's all I need to know I am making the right decisions for my kids and our family. :-)
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