Lately, Abby has been having a hard time being the second one to do everything. To start out, she doesn't think it's fair that she had to be born second . We try to let her be first where possible, but some things you have no control over. Sometimes we have to say, "Don't worry, you're only 4, you'll get to do that too when you're 6. " One of the issues we've dealt with this summer has been the fact that Brynn has become so comfortable in the water. While Brynn jumps off the diving board literally 20 times in a row, Abby has had fun cheering her on, but has also been known to mope about saying, "I wish I could go off the diving board, but I'm only 4." It's taken some explaining, but we've finally helped her discover that diving boards aren't t just for older kids, 4 year olds can do them too! We've believed she could do it, it's just been a matter of her building up enough confidence to take the plunge!
The past few times when we've been at the pool as a family, I've taken the girls to the deep end and made them swim across over and over again. Brynn does it all on her own, but I stay right in front of Abby without touching her, just cheering her on, and letting her know I am there if she needs me. When she made it all the way across the deep end (about 25 meters), she realized that she could make it half way from the diving board to the side, so when they opened the diving board, she decided she was ready to jump....and jump she did... about 8 times before it was time to go home! It was very exciting!
One funny thing that happened last night.....I was treading water in the middle of the deep waiting for Abby to swim to me. Before she took off she told me not to move. I told her I wouldn't move, I would stay put. Obviously I had to move my body, just not my position in the pool. She put her head under and started swimming and then turned around in the water and went back to the wall. She came up and lifted up her goggles and said, "I told you NOT to move mom, when I look under water and I see your legs going around and around I KNOW that you are moving!" I laughed and showed her what would happen if I didn't move my legs around in the deep....I WOULD SINK! I'm not sure she totally understood the concept, but when I told her I could stay in the same place while still moving my legs, she went ahead and swam to me, I held her for a a few seconds in the middle for a breather and then sent her on her way.
I love to see my children gain self-confidence, it doesn't matter how much confidence I have in them, if they don't have it in themselves, their progress is halted, and it can be frustrating as a parent. The reward of seeing them do something you believed they could do, and now they KNOW they can do is priceless!
2 comments:
I love it! I only wish I could have been there. I can see how proud Abby is of herself. How fun is that to swim every day of the summer and sometimes even twice. I remember as a little girl when daddy would take us swimming over to Park Roshe (pronounced roshay). I still remember how fun it was. That is also how I learned to swim across the pool and jump off of the diving board. We also went to a place in Benjamin called Arrowhead. I'm so happy you have taught them how to swim as it is such a great family activity and can truly save their lives. Fun, fun, fun! Thanks for sharing! We love you guys!
Great job Abby! Gavin and Madison loved watching you jump off the diving board.
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