I feel like without really planning it, this summer has turned into the summer of water…to put it obviously. From splash parks to fishing, creek exploration to swim lessons, this summer is shaping up to be a wet one. I think it has a combination to do with it being so hot so early this summer, my love of water, and Emma’s growing love of water. I am in my element around water. If I’m not mistaken, my sign (Scorpio) is a water sign. Emma just seems to love being in/ around the water as does her dad. We’ve found two awesome splash parks near our house and she asks to go to them daily (or play with her water table.) We sprung for a $3 sprinkler with a million different, awesome settings but so far she hasn’t gotten into it (although she will run like a loon through the splash park.)
The other thing is, Emma starts swim class next weekend, the day after her pool birthday party. I’m excited and a little nervous. Nervous because she hasn’t taken a swim class since she was like 7 or 8 months old. Not that I’m worried she won’t “remember” the good old days of yore and be able to pull off her baby back stroke like she did then, but rather, I’m more concerned that she will get frustrated/ not listen to her instructor. I can foresee this happening because so far every time we have gone to a pool, all she wants to do is jump in it. Like literally she finds a set of stairs and will climb up jump in and climb up again (cause you know, no one else needs to use the stairs.) We have asked her to kick her feet and blow bubbles and she will from time to time but listening is such a huge problem right now that it’s a guessing game from one moment to the next as to what will happen.
I also feel a little guilty that we have not exposed her to the pool enough. We went a handful of times last year but we’re not “pool people” I guess. Like those families that live at the pool and their children basically go from womb to swim team….yeah not us. But I do want Emma to be comfortable in the water so that she can enjoy swimming…not just monopolizing a set of metal stairs. Her school’s summer program also takes the kids to the pool once a week starting in July. I have no clue what this pool looks like or how deep it is but I trust her teachers. Because of this though, I really wanted her to have some solid exposure to swimming. I’m an ok swimmer, her dad is a pretty good swimmer. I’m not asking for a Michael Phelps here, well maybe a Missy Franklin :) I wouldn’t mind becoming one of those swim team families, but I hear you have to get up super early and stand around for hours to see your kid swim for a few minutes.
Anyway, we shall see where our new found love of water goes. I’m for sure hoping for more fishing trips, a lot of fun at the pool, and of course an amazing beach trip in about a month! PS. Stay tuned for the post about my 3 year old’s potential train wreck birthday party.
