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Today I took Caitlin for a swim. Long story short, it had involved going out of my way just to keep my promise to her that I would bring her for a swim, particularly this morning.
Anyway. A short proud note to my friends here, that she achieved two small feats in the pool:
- She held her breath and went underwater for a peek; with goggles.
What’s the big deal you ask? It’s because she’s never gone underwater intentionally before. Which means she was both fearful of the “unknown” of “going under” as she calls it, as well as subsequently freaking out and take in some water. Unintentionally of course means the times when she’s jumped in too eagerly and had gone under for a while, taking in water especially through the nose.Apparently there is a whole new world underwater….
- She took off her floats for a while in the adult pool, wading in 0.5m deep of water (in the shallow end)
What’s the big deal you ask? It’s because again of conquering fear, but not as explicit as it sounds. Other than the first time getting in, it’s never been an issue with the adult pool anymore while wearing the float. Taking it off however, was more like a real excitement for her and more like concern for me! I know, it was my idea, but I just wanted to try it out, let her touch the floor with her feet on her own, wade around for a while.
Picture taken Sept 2007, ankle deep in the baby pool.
These events actually happened in reverse. You see, at the condo poolside there is also a jacuzzi thing that we sometimes also visit when I bring her for a swim. It’s a round pool, with “steps” which act as seats all round the pool. It’s the deepest in the middle; and today I measured it at Caitlin’s chin-height.
I actually took her floats out at the jacuzzi, wanting her more “freedom” in her play in there. It was then that I asked if she’d wanna try going under with the goggles, to see the bubbles underwater. It was then after that that I braved going (back) into the adult pool without her wearing the floats in her costume.
On the way back to my parents’ after the swim at our condo, I had the opportunity to “teach” her that the bubbles she saw underwater are actually just air, and very different from the bubbles that she’d get from blowing through the loopy thing that comes with the bottle of soap from Toys’ R Us; even though both are called bubbles.
I think she got it.
For a person who had a near drownning experience, I would totally understand Caitlin’s concept of it being a whole different world underwater!!!
For a long time after which everytime I saw the ‘water plug’ at the bottom of the swimming pool, I would imagine that some invisible creature would come open it and the water suction would pull me into its depths of endless water and darkness!!
But beware just that she doesn’t slip in the adult pool! Esp you know how they just slope down into the deep end!
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Hi Ann!
Of course, you are right about “opening up the safety gate”, now that I have whet her appetite for this kinda pool adventure. At the same time of preparing her for lessons (in overcoming any fear of the water) I should be wary of its dangers too- like, she shouldn’t go into the water alone at all, make sure there is constant adult supervision, etc.
Hmm, perhaps you can share your experience with us?
Hey, Hooray for Caitlin!!
My boys are so far from any swimming feats. Max today confessed that he’s afraid of the pool because there’s just too much water, compared to the bath tub.
The other thing is there’s just no pool near by for us to have a swim regularly to think of any achievements. Well, maybe when they are a little older I’ll sign them up for some lessons.
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