I hate instructors who think one way is going to work for every kid.

I'm going to posit that works for almost NO kid. It's sucky. The only possible positive scenario I can see is if there is some sort of ducking 'game' to it. And even then you have to nix the game if they're not into it.

I've taught a lot of children to swim. I've taught a handfull of fearful adults as well who even if they didn't get over their anxiety completely became much more comfortable and capable in the water. If any of you ever wants to work on it let me know.

sara, I will tell you what I am telling everyone. If you have the money, buy a set of mattress encasements. Seriously.

we got back in the water today and the kids were blissfully unaffected by yesterday's adventure.

Thanks, everyone. I think a scare or two is pretty standard according to others, experiences.

msbelle, you continue to handle your situation with strength and grace. I remain impressed.

Dh called me today to say he mises us and wants us to come home early. He's bored and lonely, poor guy.

Cashmere, let me agree with whomever said earlier that it was not Parent Fail at ALL -- children are wily, quick, little creatures and you DID keep a sharp eye on them.

Still, scary as fuck!

Thanks Amy and Cashmere - nice things are nice to hear. I've been listening to my own voice in my head too much.

mac is having a hard time not sitting on the couch. But once he gets in the recliner he likes it more I think. I will have lost the recliner as my seat.

They really are right.

So the downstairs flush needs it's float flushed (it's running and for god knows how long.) I can barely recall how to do it and just don't have it in me tonight. So I shut off the valve.

I want to get a sign like this made to hang over my kitchen door: [link]

I like having my travels mark my home.

msbelle, when will the treatment by the ... treatment people be done? I was away most of last week and missed a lot, so I might have missed updates on that.

Also, poor mac. Those ads are way intense. I turn them off, or at least turn away, the minute they come on.

Even if they end up never doing what they're "supposed" to do that day they had fun in the water instead of that lesson being a battle or a failure or abandoned completely.

EXACTLY. The point of the class is to get kids comfortable in the water and having fun. 18m-3y olds are NOT learning to swim, they are learning to trust that their parents will not let them drown.

[eta: I partially take that back - some of the kids closer to 3 probably are learning the basics of how to kick and move their arms. But there's no independent floating in this level of class - everything is done with the parent in the water. The 3-5 year olds are the youngest to go in the water alone with floaty belts.]

One thing I often had success with (and my Sister who is teaching still does) is when they don't want to go in or don't want to go under is to non-spashily get them wet by patting water on them.

Oh, he does all that. And he'll happily splash water on his head and face, and put his ears in the water. Just not the whole head. (He'll even put his face in to "blow bubbles," but since what he's actually doing is taking sips of the pool water I try not to encourage it.)

My father threw me into the pool to introduce me to the water. I'm guessing that's not so okay these days.