Swimming Lessons

We took the boys to swim lessons this year. My concern was mostly for Brooks since he has fallen in the water so much lately, luckily we have been right there every time but talk about scare me to death!! Cade is a little more hesitant around water, but of course we want him to have the knowledge of what to do if for some reason he ever does fall in the water and for some odd reason we are not around.

 

So after getting some recommendations from friends we decided to get private lessons with Elkie Elkins. She was hesitant to teach Brooks being that he was so young she said they usually don't respond well at that age but she was willing to try since she was teaching Cade. They go Mon-Fri for two weeks. I tried to document each day, but some days were harder than others if I was by myself depending on how they reacted.

 

Day 1:

 

They were watching another lesson outside of the window from the pool house, as they were very curious what was going to happen!!

 

 

They both SCREAMED during the swim lesson. Dani and I hid out in the pool house and they kept trying to find us inside. I wasn't able to get any pictures past this because it was just too traumatic and once it was over, they wanted out of there!!

 

On our way home though I asked if they had fun, Cade shook his head NOOOO!! and Brooks responded from the back seat....

 

"I almost died!!"

 

I can tell you I cracked up laughing and I said "Son, did you say you almost died???!!"

 

He replied, "Yeah!!".

 

Dani and I were crying we were laughing so hard. Let me remind you that this child just turned two less than two weeks ago!! Most two year olds can't say more than 3 words at once, much less comprehend that they "almost died", even though he didn't but I am sure at his age it probably felt like it! This child seriously blows my mind sometimes with the things he says!!!

 

Day 2:

 

Before....Brooks was pretty happy and Cade was nervous!

 

After...they were both glad that was over!

 

Day 3:

 

Both boys were scared silly!! Daddy was there to help out on this day, in hopes that they would listen to him better and not cry so much. They did great and I had to hide out in the pool house again so no pictures past this. I got a lot of videos though!!

 

 

They did great with Daddy there and Brooks is starting to actually swim!! Cade has to learn to listen better and calm down more, but she said that is normal for his age because he is more aware of what is going to happen next.

 

Day 4:

 

 

 

 

After the lessons, I think they were just glad it was over!! But they both did great...improving more each day!! Mrs. Elkie is so impressed with Brooks! She said she is always hesitant to teach them at 2 and especially since he just turned two... but she said that he is blowing her mind at how well he is swimming and pulling himself up on the wall!! Looks like we have a good swimmer on out hands...just like Poppa!!

 

She also said Cade is doing well, he just has to work on not crying so much and listen to what she tells him to do. But of course, she said that is very normal for their age and keeps assuring me that by next week he will have it all down!!

 

Day 5:

 

Daddy came to help/watch again and I actually got to take some pictures of them swimming at the end of their lesson....

 

This is their teacher, Mrs. Elkie, who has done a fabulous job!!

 

 

 Daddy doing a little coaching.....

Cade was holding on for dear life, he knew she was about to let go!!

 

 

They do SO much better with daddy there. Brooks was actually swimming by day 4 and just keeps improving. We have to work on Cade listening to what Mrs. Elkie says and putting his face down in the water, but he is getting there and they both did a great job!!

 

 Day 6:

 

They had two days off over the weekend, so the anticipation of our arrival was just too overwhelming on their first day back at it!

 

 

They both did GREAT though!! Brooks tried to dramatize it a little on the side of the pool when he was having to watch Cade, but honestly he is doing so well and becoming quite the water bug!!

 

Brooks just jumps in off the wall and just starts swimming!

 

Cade improved drastically on Day 6, he was listening well and he put his face down in the water all by himself! He was really swimming in the water and he made me a proud momma!!

 

After they were all done they were so proud of themselves!! They both did great and Daddy and Mommy were so proud of them for working so hard and listening to Mrs. Elkie! 4 more days left!!

 

Day 7:

 

Before:

 

Daddy left for a fishing trip this day for the rest of the week and they were mostly sad that he wasn't there to watch them!

 

 

So we went outside so they could watch some older little boys swim around. They got more excited about it then!

 

After:

 

They both did great again!! Cade started to listen to Elkie and put his face down in the water. Brooks just took off swimming and kicking his legs on top of the water!!

 

Day 8:

 

Finally....I got a smile before the lessons began!!

 

 

And a smile from Brooks during the lessons!

 

Day 9:

 

Before....

 

I told them if they were big boys and listened to Mrs. Elkie that we could go see Mike the Tiger!!

 

They did a great job again!! So after swim lessons we had a dinner date at Izzo's and ate burritos and quesadillas...

 

And then we went to go see Mike the Tiger!!

 

Day 10:

 

Last day!!!

 

I love how Cade was really trying to smile and be happy, haha!!

 

 

We love Mrs. Elkie!!!

 

Ha, this is right after she gave them "the test" of throwing them in the deep end as if they really fell in the pool and making sure they could swim to the side and pull themselves up....both of the boys passed!!! Cade actually surprised me the most at how well he did, he actually got above the water some while swimming back to the side!! Make sure to check out the videos for that!

 

 

We really are very grateful for Mrs. Elkie!! The techniques that she taught the boys over the last two weeks are priceless and very much appreciated!! At times it was hard to watch and listen to all of the crying, but it was necessary for them to learn and we knew they were in great hands with her!!!

She gave them a cookie after their last lesson as their treat.....

 

and presented them with their first certificates!!!

 

 Both boys did great and have been begging to go back ever since!!

 

Elkie said that she is just amazed at Brooks!! First, at how well he can swim at his age. She said she has NEVER taught a child that young that can swim at the end. She said he may be the "future Michael Phelps"! She said she was amazed at how he NEVER chokes on water and can hold his breath an extremely long time! She said if she ever makes a success video, he needs to be on it. She loves how he just glides through the water so effortlessly. She also was just floored by how well he can communicate and talk.
 

She was very impressed by Cade that he was able to get past his fear and put his face down in the water. By the end of the second week he was telling her where to go in the pool and he was begging to go swimming in the deep end. He really started progressing the last few days once he was able to get over his fears. She feels like Cade will probably need one more year of lessons, but he is off to a great start! She said this is very common for the older kids because they are more aware of what is going to happen and their fear is more of a reality. It was hard to tell if Cade was retaining what she was telling him because he is very stubborn and has this special way of being extremely quiet and looking at you like you are SO stupid, when really he is listening very closely and retaining everything you are saying to him....wonder where he gets that from??? (daddy?)!! So when she threw him in the deep end on the last lesson and he did a fabulous job of swimming to the side, we both said....he was just being stubborn, he really was listening and learning!!! I was very relieved to see how awesome he did!!

 

Hopefully this was enough to instill some life saving techniques in both of them if they ever do fall into the water....regardless, it was worth every penny!! I am so proud of my boys for working so hard and learning how to swim over the last two weeks!! Make sure to check out the videos of their progress during this time!

Looks like we will be having some swimming fun this summer to help reinforce what they learned so stay tuned for more fun pics of our swimming adventures!

 

Until next time.....