Swim Lessons

My non-native Arizonian, 3 1/2 year old is finally in swim lessons! All his cousins are little fish, while he merely races the deck at Grandma's pool and screams when he has to get in. 

He was not one bit excited at the prospect of taking swim lessons (and even a Spiderman toy bribe didn't work). He was in the middle of a full blown panic attack, while we sat in the parking lot, clutching at his car seat belt with all his might, screaming, when I had an idea. I remembered a class was going on before his and since we were early, they'd still be swimming. I stopped pleading/demanding/coaxing and excitedly told him that some kids were taking their lesson right now and if we hurried, we might get to see them!!!! I don't know how that worked, but it did. He willingly went right in, and I pointed across the pool, where the class was and had him watch what they were doing. 

Then I was approached by a lifeguard with too little to do and told I needed to be {behind the yellow line}. I looked up, puzzled. Huh?! "Can't I just show him the class that is swimming right now? He's nervous and wants to know what will happen."

"Yes, you can watch.... behind the yellow line. It's state law."

Oh, my eye roll was TORTURE to hold back! We were maybe 2 feet in front of it and still farrrr from the class and my arm was around him. He wasn't going to drown. 

Show me that state law!! I want to see where it says in state law writing that all parents must stay behind the yellow caution tape while their child is in swim lessons at the Farmington community pool!

But I didn't say one thing and moved back two feet. The world was in order again. 

The other class ended and the teacher came over to round up the next class and walk them over to the water. Blessings be upon Collin, he went happily! Then I remembered my camera! I hurried over and asked the teacher if I could snap one quick picture on his first day. She said yes and as I was turning back to return to behind the yellow line, the same lifeguard approached me. "Ma'am you are not allowed over here. On the last day of class, you will be allowed over and can take a picture." I'm surprised she didn't end with, "it's state law." 

Give me a break! What is this place? This time my eye did roll, but I'm pretty sure I was turned before it did.

(You can kind of see in the background, next to the door, the bleachers lined with yellow tape.) 

This is my view from where Weston and I sit. We basically see nothing. Actually, I only took this picture because one morning, the fire department was outfitted in massive hazmat suits and doing drills in the water. You can barely see them beyond the rainbow rings.

So now, you know where to find us every Tues. and Thursday morning! I'm so glad he likes it and hopefully he's learning something too. Maybe after a few months of this, he'll actually be ready to swim this summer!