Swim training, week 3: going mental & recovering

My swim training is now halfway done! And what a week it was.

During the last 10 years, while I attempted to pursue training with another company, I was warned that week 4 was termed "deer in the headlights" week when the information became overwhelming. So I have been wary of the upcoming week 4.

But my moment came this week. Just after noon, I have three kids in a row, ages 4 and 3. All of them were swimming horribly and Nadyne was fussing at me about what I needed to do to fix each one. I couldn't figure out what she was talking about and so she fussed even more. And so ... that was that.

Fortunately, there was a break so I sat outside and let myself have a pity party. Giving up never crossed my mind so I wasn't about to bow out. When I went back in, Nadyne asked if I was ok and if I'd believe that she cried every day for six weeks (and I told her no, I didn't believe that!). She said,"You're like the kids: you know what you know. And you don't know what you don't know."

Back in the water for afternoon lessons and I was fine. Nadyne, for the most part, stayed out of the water Thursday and I thought I did pretty well. (She told me when we got to the pool Thursday morning that her son Jacob told her to tell me: "Breathe through your eyelids!" and go Zen.)

Nadyne also showed The Daisy how to butterfly and she did two strokes perfectly and I could've sworn I was watching my mother in the water! Nadyne said The Daisy would be an amazing swimmer and that Cincinnati has one of the best competitive swim programs in the country. The Daisy told her dad about her accomplishment and, judging from his reaction, competitive swimming is an unlikely future for her.

Visit to the horse rescue

Since all of us are now horse-less, we visited the horse rescue in town, where we had previously volunteered and adopted three mares.
I am really surprised at The Boo's interest in horses now, but I think it's only if the thing is his size. A larger animal still intimidates him and he isn't nearly as horse savvy as The Daisy.

They've both become enamored with the mini-donkeys and, really, who can blame them with a face like that?

And The Daisy played with an app on my phone that lets you color pictures and this is one of the results:

She asked me to email the rescue's director about taking on a project while she's living with me this summer and today we were out looking over some possibilities. Here's one on her list - Miss Tigger:

I liked these girls:

And this guy too. My stepfather Jerry wants a mule. I've told him I was going to adopt one and keep it for him. Maybe this little guy would do.

The rescue takes in everything, as you can see, and, clearly, it was hot today:

I have the worst time convincing them it's time to go.

Swim training: week 2

It's really supposed to be week 4, but the pool heater broke for two weeks so it's like I, and the kids, started all over this week. Yuck.

Monday and Tuesday Nadyne cut me loose with most of the kids. Inside, I was freaking out, but I just needed to do it ... with Nadyne standing there watching me, asking me why I was doing this, why was I doing that? Well, heck, I'm not sure - I think I saw you do it at some point and I'm flying by the seat of my pants here, hoping I don't mess the kid up and wig out the parent in the meantime!

Wednesday The Daisy and The Boo went with me to the pool under threat of being super good or I was going to flip. Nadyne took over all the kids and I first thought she was doing it because my kids were there and she might be thinking I wouldn't be able to focus. But watching her made me feel a bit more confident and she told me,"You've got to stop namby-pambying these kids." So I attempted with some of the afternoon ones and bombed out. There went my confidence.

Daisy and Boo swam the ENTIRE seven hours we were there and never made a peep. They swam with hotel kids, they swam with older siblings of students. They had a blast and Nadyne said she had never seen such well-behaved kids. She told them they were welcome at her pool anytime. I heard her brag on them to a couple of the moms. *Huge Grin* I thanked them over and over for being so good.

Thursday I got to rolling again and I think I did okay. I was feeling if I pushed the kids that I was going to break down that sliver of trust they had in me not to let them drown because I've seen some of them crawl up on Nadyne like cats in water. I haven't had that yet, but it's coming. Nadyne told me before I left that I was close to my 100 hours of training - I'm at 66 hours presently so I best get cracking on making kids swim proficiently.

There are some really challenging ones, which is good for me. Ethan, who won't float. Marley, who's in that in-between crawling and walking stage so after a week of unsuccessfully getting her to kick for a swim, I've decided she needs to float. Erica, the open-mouth, back-arching, non-kicking child - she's going to be awesome. Mulan, who will not hold onto the bar after her swim and just sinks. Harper, who has a beautiful swim and float and then starts crying that she can't do it about five minutes in. All things I have to figure out how to fix to make them successful in the water.

Swim training: week 1 complete

For 10 years, I've wanted to become an infant swim instructor. Both my children went through an infant swim program and watching them gain the skills to save themselves in the water was amazing. But the certification fee was always just out of my reach for years but I never lost sight that it was the only thing I wanted to do. I just had to figure out how to get the fee together to do it. Lucky me, my divorce got me the fee to start a new life.
Monday felt a bit surreal. Here I was about to start training to do something I've wanted to do for 10 years. A little daunting, very exciting, a little shake of the head that I was finally here. And, as I said to my instructor this week, had I stayed married, I still would be floating around the house and wishing I could train. It would have stayed that way, and stayed that way, and stayed that way.
As I said: new life.
The downside is I had to move from the kids to do this, but my 10-year-old very smart daughter, during our discussion about why I needed to move, said,"I want you to save lives."
Sure, you can sit at a desk every day and contribute to the economy. I'm saving lives - she said it. It's why I wanted to do this.
I'm to be in the pool for six weeks with 100 hours of in-water instruction with a variety of ages from six months to four years. Just this week, I've done over 26 hours but that's neither here nor there. It's six weeks, regardless.
All of last week, was spent time reading and making notes from the books my instructor gave me on child development. Found out that I've forgotten how to study. Drat.
Every day I've been in the water for at least 6 1/2 hours. Learning the techniques is a lot to take in. The pool isn't as warm as I'd like it. It's going to wreak havoc on my skin (my friend Phyllis told me to bathe in olive oil).
I told my grandmother on my first day I let a kid sink. Thirty kids a day, four days a week - I let one kid sink three of four days (each time a different kid). A bit overwhelming. Wednesday night I felt exhausted.
My instructor, Nadyne, asked me at the end of my first day if I really wanted to do this. She said she was going to ask me about 100 more times.
Today she asked if I was happy I was doing this.
Oh yes, absolutely. I'm finally where I'm supposed to be.

Unitsi Day weekend

The kids and I went to the Kentucky Horse Park over Mother's Day weekend.

I had put off going because I figured it was nothing more than like hanging out in my backyard, but everyone said to go so we did.
Wish I'd just saved my money. It was like hanging out in my backyard.

But the kids seemed to enjoy it, as much as they could, given they had found out their dad had given away their ponies without telling them and after promising he was going to keep the ponies at the farm. Nice going, putz. So they stood here at the mini pen and cried.

The Boo loved these flowers and wanted a picture next to them. He's so sweet. I love him.

Forego was a horse trained by the late Frank Whiteley Jr., who graciously allowed me to hang around his barn at the Camden Training Center even though he hated reporters. My friend, Bob Witham, used to ride Forego for Mr. Whiteley and the picture everyone wanted after Bob died in a riding accident was that one of him with "Forego" burned into his belt and carrying his tack to take another set out.

And now we get to the goof ball portion of our program:

These are great kids. Every day is Mother's Day with them.

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to everyone, especially my grandmother who took on the thankless job of raising me.
Pictured, from left, my mother Sharon, me, my grandmother Betty and her mother Willa.

Two kids, two ponies, a minute of sun and a self-timer

The title says it all.
I wanted a family picture and the weather just would not cooperate. My friend Holly agreed to come whenever we wanted but it rained for days.
On the very last available day, the sun peeked out and I hollered for everyone to get ready.
Now, the ponies were not ready. The kids had been brushing them for weeks, trying to get their winter coats off. Tara Jean takes on the appearance of a miniature woolly mammoth. But the rain kept us from being able to attend to the ponies and they were rain-soaked and pitiful looking.
Never the mind ... we had a chance and took it.
And we were lucky to get a couple of really good shots, but this is our Family Picture:

Here the cats want in on the action:

Oops, we're missing the mom in this one.

Ok, over and done and The Daisy takes Hank for a little ride.