A Time For Baughnding: Swimming Lessons

The emergence of summer also means the emergence of swimming lessons in our house. Trinity and Kalyn have participated in swimming lessons for a few years now. Last year, the switch clicked for Trinity and she started really swimming near the end of the summer. However, a refresher course and trainer professions to coach and encourage her for two weeks is not something we'll pass up too quickly. The kids were really looking forward to their lessons - Kalyn began asking, "Are we going to swimming lessons today?" about a month before they began (actually before they were registered).

We love the Roswell Rec Center. Their classes are reasonably small, the prices are great and the teachers are wonderful!! Trinity's teachers have remembered her each year - which is saying a lot when they've only saw her either eight or 16 days (for only 45 minutes each day) the summer before. She has made quite an impression on these high school and college kids teaching her! The night before the first class, Trinity asked if Miss Grace, her favorite teacher would be there. We love, love, love Miss Grace. I told her we would have to wait and find out.

This paragraph will epitomize just how opposite my daughters are. As we were driving to the pool, I gave each girl a little pep talk. To Trinity, I said, "Now remember, Trinity - you can do all the things that your teachers will be asking you to do. Just don't be afraid and get right in there and do them! I know you can." To Kalyn, I said, "Kalyn, don't jump off the edge of the pool before the teachers tell you." As we walked in, we were joyfully greeted by Miss Grace and Mr Spencer, (Kalyn's teacher from last year and Trinity's teacher from two years ago). Grace is Kalyn's teacher for this round of lessons. I tried to give Grace a small heads up about the girls' differences, but I'm not sure she really grasped it until half-way through the first lesson.

It is so interesting to watch the girls in their swim classes. Kalyn just can't wait to get out in the water to practice her strokes (a few times, Grace has had to put her back on the side of the pool because Kalyn's excitement has pulled her off the side). Every so often, Grace just laughs and looks over at me as if to say, "I can't believe these two are related." We can hear her laughing, singing and whooping up a storm. It's great to see Trinity excited about her lessons. Mr. Spencer, her teacher, is excellent with her, giving her just the encouragement and instruction she needs. It's also fun to hear Kalyn cheering Trinity on as she "swims" in front of Kalyn's class. A couple of times Kalyn's even called out to Trinity asking her to come to her class. It's cute!

Here are just a few of the pictures I've snapped this week of their lessons.

Trinity ~