Monday 23 November 2009

Swimming like fish...(or the impossible joy of being there when they finally do something amazing!)

I'm writing this sat on a bench overlooking to pools in the local swimming baths keeping an eye on each. To the left of me Bog Boy is sitting expectantly on the tiled bench like windowsill in front of the gigantic picture windows overlooking the car park. He's intently watching the children in the class before him bobbing up and down in the water doing "Ring-a-ring-o-rosies". It looks like he's using all his will power not to jump in with them. He knows he has to wait his turn. I can see he's quivering with anticipation.
To the right of me, my eldest, The Boy, lounges against the wall, arms and legs crossed. Totally unfazed by the steamy atmosphere, seemingly unaware of the cacophony that billows and buffets around him.
One session ends and with a squeal of joy Bog Boy is in the pool, doing big jumps across it. "Look at me! Look at me Mumma!" he grins at me and then jumps faster to catch up: "Boing! Boing! Boing!"
The Boy on the other hand gracefully slides into the pool and that's where it ends. All that loose-limbed gracefulness fades and well let's say he's the opposite of a swan. On land he's beautiful, streamlined (for a boy of 6) and dreamy - in the water well, it's just painful.
He pushes off from the wall and all seems fine for about a metre and then there is a frantic flailing of arms, and I presume legs, and I watch him slowly start to sink. It is agonising. His shoulders disappear beneath the water then his head until all that is left is his face screwed up with concentration as he desperately tries not to touch the floor with his feet; he sinks beneath the water, then briefly remerges before sinking down again, then up and spluttering as his teacher’s voice like a fog horn utters: “Oh No! You’ve put your feet down AGAIN!”
To be honest, I am quite glad, as for a minute there I really thought he would drown and was about to draw the attention of the gaggle of teenage life guards standing in a group chatting to each other over in the far corner.
Panic over, I glance over at the other pool to watch Bog Boy’s progress. I’m afraid to say Bog Boy is the loudest in his class. He does a running commentary and with blithe disregard chatters to all and sundry especially his brother:
Bog boy: Boy! Boy! Look at me! Over 'ere Boy! Look!
The Boy looks over and grins giving Bog Boy a thumbs up sign before being brought to brook by his swimming teacher and told to concentrate.
Bog Boy’s swim teacher knows not to bother doing that to him for he’ll just ignore it and do what he wants. As if on cue he calls to me.
Bog Boy: Mummy Mum, Mummy MUUUMMMEEE!
Me (trying to act as if chatting to a 3 year old across a 15m distance is a normal thing to do): Yes darling?
Bog Boy, as he gets out of the pool in the middle of being asked to do something: Mumma?
Me, smiling apologetically at his teacher: “Yes love?” Expecting him to say that he needs to go to the loo and very aware of everyone else listening in.
Bog Boy: “Can I have some crisps?”
Me: slightly non plussed: “What Now?”
He nods.
Me: When your lesson’s over love.
I am acutely aware that I have gone a deep shade of red and I can hear people trying not to laugh. I watch Bog Boy rejoin his class supremely unaware of the embarrassment he has caused and I turn to watch my eldest in an effort to compose myself.
His teacher is making him swim without support again – a whole width!
He’s starting off well, good strong push from the wall that gives him 1m.
Now kick those legs.
Keep those arms moving.
Doesn’t matter about the water in your eye, just shut them!
Try to keep going forwards.
Legs! Boy legs! Keep kicking.
Over half way now. I know your sinking but really you’re almost there!
Come on Boy! Come on!
Kick! Kick, kick, kick.
Keep going! Keep going!
Go on MY BOY!
Ohmygodhe’smadeit!
The Boy has swum 5m all on his own – OK, not stylishly and to be honest I thought he was drowning most of the time, but he went from side-to-side without putting his feet down!!!!!
I suddenly realise that everything has gone quiet, I clap my hand to my mouth and I flush again. In my excitement I have leapt out of my seat and punched the air obviously yelling at the top of my voice in excitement.
The deafening silence is broken by a cherubic little voice:
Bog Boy: Are we going home now?

15 comments:

menopausaloldbag (MOB) said...

Oh those moments when yer wee one takes a giant leap forward are so great to witness. What a great story and no wonder you jumped up with joy - that's quite a thing for a wee boy to achieve. I hope your eldest manages to do it soon too.

I loved swimming as a kid but the echo of all the screaming voices in the pool used to stay with me all the way home. It's a very odd mish mash of noice. great post.

Anonymous said...

Maybe he should move directly to scuba diving?

Tattieweasle said...

MOB - The eldest did do it! Bog Boy will do it when he's ready and not before - he's a tad independent but that goes for lots of second children I fear. Just like his dad!
Mud - I'll put it to him and say he'll actually be able to breathe underwater. Even he will say that's pretty cool!

SmitoniusAndSonata said...

Brilliant !

Grit said...

it is a wonderful feeling to watch that sudden great leap up to the stars, and while i travel up there in pride and joy, the gritlets usually just look puzzled like 'eh? could do it all along'.

this is one of the many reasons why we home educate; i didn't see why i should give that joy - whether it's a sudden understanding in maths, reading, learning a language - to someone who was too busy to recognise it for what it was - a fantastic and special moment.

Tattieweasle said...

SmitoniusAndSonata - It really is, the poor blighter used to be terrified of water!
Grit - totally in awe of your Home Ed; I know a few round where I live and the children are fantatsic, really inquisitive and open minded fabulous to talk and to listen to! And isn't it a great feeling...

Ffi said...

Glad they can now swim - can't drown them now when they're annoying you mind!!
There's an award for you over at mine
BNMx

Woozle1967 said...

Oh, my - I laughed out loud! Thank you!xx

Tattieweasle said...

BNM - Pugger never thought of that bath time will never be the same again! Actually it's them that tend to drown me...
Woozle - that's what I'm here for!

Withy Brook said...

Takes me back 45 years, Tattie. And that air punch - Yeeees!

Tattieweasle said...

Withy - it was a magical moment!

Elizabeth Musgrave said...

Isn't it wonderful? My son used to swim underwater for years when he was small and was confined to how far he could get on a lungful of air (quite a long way). It was wonderful when he finally worked out how to come up, gulp, submerge and carry on!

Expat mum said...

Oh how squashily gorgeous. My little guy is constantly being told that you can't really swim and carry on a conversation. Oh, but he can!

Tattieweasle said...

elizabethm - that's just how I learnt to swim! I used to think it was just me...:)
Expatmum - obviously takes after his Mum and can do more than one thing at a time!

blackbird said...

There's something about an indoor pool that is a world apart.

My son, early this morning on the way to swim team practice said about the new, tentative swimmers on the team- 'I just wish that they could feel how it feels to do the strokes right. I think that it would help them.' Maybe it would.

Go on you know you want to...

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