Grif finished up swim lessons last week and got his certificate. According to the certificate, he can:
1. Enter the water by jumping in... Check. He could do this before he started. This is going to be easy.
2. Submerge and hold breath for 5 seconds... I think so. I guess I never timed him.
3. Bobbing, 5-times in chest deep water... If they mean splashing around like you are drowning but not being in any serious danger, just being a goober... Check.
4. Front float, 5 seconds... Front sink straight to the bottom, 5 seconds? Check
5. Jellyfish float, 5 seconds... What?
6. Tuck float, 5 seconds... Huh? Truck float, like sink? Check.
7. Recover from a front float or glide to a vertical position... Griffin glides like a bulldozer hopped up on amphetamines.
8. Back float, 5 seconds... back sink straight to the bottom, 5 seconds? Check
9. Back glide, 2 body lengths... Ref #7
10. Recover from a back float or glide to a vertical position... Lunge forward awkwardly and get back to his feet? Check
11. Change direction of travel while swimming on front or back... He actually does this pretty well when looking for the dive sticks underwater.
12. Treading using arm and leg actions, 15 seconds (in shoulder deep water)... Jumping up and down with his feet on the bottom?? Check.
13. Combined arm and leg actions on front, 5 body lengths... Thrashing like he's being attacked by a shark while moving in some kind of general direction. Check.
14. Finning arm action on back, 5 body lengths... grifFin? Part of the word is in his name, he must be good at it. Check.
15. Combined arm and leg actions on back, 5 body lengths... Ref #13
16. Step from side into chest-deep water, move into a front float for 5 seconds, roll to back, float for 5 seconds then return to a vertical position... Wait, step, then what?
17. Move into a back float for 5 seconds, roll to front, then recover to a vertical position... Other than the 5 seconds thing, I think he has this one.
18. Push off and swim using combined arm and leg actions on front for 5 body lengths, roll to back, float for 15 seconds, roll to front, then continue swimming for 5 body lengths... Push, huh? Then what?
In all reality, I never expected him to be able to swim coming out of this class. He does fairly well maneuvering underwater, holds his breath and is certainly far more comfortable splashing around in the pool. Which makes pool visits much more relaxing for mom and dad. As long as he can touch, he's pretty much okay. Not to say we don't keep a close eye on him, but we don't have to be hovering over him any more. So, although the pool's checklist seems to exaggerate his abilities, he meets the biggest check-box:
19. Meeting Mom and Dad's expectations... Big ole fat CHECK!
Extra Credit:
20. Swimmers ear... check.
BOOO. His left ear is really hurting him. He was screaming and crying today when we took his shirt off. We got some drops from the Doc and gave him some Tylenol. Hopefully he gets over it soon.
From a long, long time swimmer and now swim Mom... 3 parts rubbing alcohol and 1 part white vinegar. Mix together and put 3-4 drops in the ear. Use a hairdryer on COLD or at least cool to indirectly blow air into the ear. Repeat. We use it even when we don't have sore ears as a preventative. Sometimes I add tea tree oil (couple drops). Usually they only get swimmer's ear in winter when it is 24 degrees and they are leaving the pool 4 nights a week without hats. ;)
ReplyDeleteTell Grif how PSYCHED we are to hear about his swimming exploits!