Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Torture, please, twice a week.............

Torture (aka swim lessons) have been occurring now for about 6 weeks. See the smiles? This was the very first lesson !!



That is Ms. Rhonda.............

Our first lesson was GREAT......wow, we were really patting ourselves on the back. We were gonna have great swimmers, no floaties needed this summer!! Imagine, sitting by the pool (actually in a chair) watching the girls just swim around and play so nicely.............

WRONG!

Lesson #2 and #3 went so bad, it was suggested that maybe we have a lesson by ourselves.....read between the lines? we were distracting to our friend and slowing her down. True, all true........So, off we went to a different pool to have our private lesson.........Actually, it didn't go too bad. Until the next one.............when the tantrum started at the beginning and didn't stop till the end.
AWFUL
Now, I am that mother that people around the pool are wondering "why is she making her poor little girl go through all this?" "isn't it obvious that she is so miserable and pitiful?" "I would never make my child do something they don't want to do".................
Listen up people---I have a Drama Queen on my hands here..............As soon as the lesson is over, she is all smiles, high fiving Ms. Rhonda, chatting it up with the fellow swimmers........Having a blast............it's just the 45mins of actual "listening" and "following instructions" that is causing the tantrum..........She is NOT afraid of the water, She is NOT afraid of Ms. Rhonda.............It's just a good old fashioned POWER STRUGGLE!!

A Power Struggle that is wearing me out! It is embarrassing sitting there quietly watching her throw a fit and show her butt for all to see.............It's an internal battle that makes me wonder "maybe she is miserable" "why am I making her do this" "Am I being selfish for wanting her to learn how to swim"..............No, it's for safety. plain and simple. right?
If you ask her after the lesson, how it went? she says GREAT!
hmmmmmmmmmmm, it doesn't feel great !!
Ask her if she's ready to go do it again? She says, ABSOLUTELY!!
hmmmmmmmmmmm, it doesn't feel absolutely!!

I've tried bribes.........Because that is what (bad) moms do........hasn't worked yet......

Well, we have another one Thursday, so, there's always tomorrow, right?

2 comments:

Tiffany Lockette said...

Too funny. Yes, seems like you have a wee little power struggle on your hands. Try to stay sane!! We all know you are a great Mommy!!

holly said...

oh no! does she like going swimming when it's not a lesson? maybe miss rhonda can give you a few tips you can try out on your own without her knowing??