More Comfortable in the Water

I will be the first to admit that I am a freak about my kids in water.  I get so freaked out about drowning.  When I was pregnant with both kids, I had nightmares about them at the lake.  Horrible and still so vivid. 

 That being said, I get really freaked out about them in the lake.  This year, I have gotten so much (ok, maybe just a little) better.  I still don't let them swim in it, but a couple of our friends have cool rafts and lily pads that they play on in the lake.  They love it.  And I feel like I am being really brave.  Baby steps.  :) 

Cohan had two goals for the summer.  Swim and tie his shoes.  We have done neither.  But... he is in swim lessons and we did just buy shoes with laces... again, baby steps.  :)

My sister-in-law, Beth, told me about these amazing swim lessons.  She kept talking about how great they were.  I thought they were a little pricey and time consuming, but I trusted her judgement and couldn't be happier.  The Mizzou swim coach and his family teaches them.  The first day, Ireland LOVED lessons.  She was so friendly and did everything they asked.  I stay in the water with her and I think that helped.  Cohan cried the ENTIRE time on his first day.   The coaches wife said maybe Scott and I should leave.  That didn't help.  We still heard him screaming for us.  :(

That night, we decided to try bribery.  If he didn't cry, we would go out to dinner and he could get a strawberry daiquiri.  Boom!  It worked!!!  Since that day, he has not cried once, has asked to go back and is now diving for rings and sticks at the bottoms of the pool on his own.  He is swimming!!!  I am so proud of him.  Ireland?  Yeah, she does everything they tell her to and also goes to the bottom for rings, but she is NOT happy about it anymore.  

We go again each night next week.  I am impressed with how these lessons are going and it is helping me not to be a crazy worrier about my kids in the water!