When I was a kid, my aunt had a swimming pool. It was a lovely in-ground pool, with a sliding board and a diving board. Every kid in our family learned to swim. It was expected.

When my older two children were little, they took swimming lessons. We did not have a pool at home, but in one town there was a local pool, and after we moved we had a membership at the YMCA for a while.

My youngest child took swimming lessons before the pandemic. He has a phobia about putting his head under water. Fast forward to now. He is taking swimming lessons through the Fit for Life program at school. I had already gotten him a new swimsuit. The day of his first lesson I ran out and got him swim shoes. Before the lesson, he asked me to inform the instructor that he would quit the lessons if they made him put his head underwater. I ignored this. We arrived and he got in line with other boys. I was happy when he greeted a few by name. I took a seat in the bleachers. The teacher sat the kids down, and asked their names. And I heard James say, “my mom says I can quit if you make me put my head in the water.” Ugh!! I just shook my head emphatically.

It all worked out. He was given the option to skip blowing bubbles in the water. Once that was done, he participated in everything else.

I am not sure how he developed the head under water phobia. There are times I think of my grandmother saying that in her day they just tossed kids in the water, and they learned to swim. Ironically, my mom, her daughter, never did learn to swim. The one time it seemed to trouble her was when I was in middle school and I got caught in a riptide at the Jersey Shore. I made it back to the beach, and she fretted about not being able to help because she couldn’t swim. There was nothing she could have done anyway.

I am hoping eventually James gets more comfortable in the pool. Really hoping, since I got us a membership for the city pools this year. I figure we will visit them all and pick a favorite. You can buy pool memberships online at https://bethlehempa.myrec.com/info/default.aspx

Even if he doesn’t get all the way in the water, I figure he will enjoy the pools. I also think swimming is an important life skill.

I am also hoping my medical issues are straightened out before the pool season starts. Fingers crossed!