6/21/2011

In The Swim of Things

The kiddo has finished day 2 (of 8) of his swimming lessons. We did the parent/child lessons again 3 weeks ago and, based on how well he was doing, they recommended that we go ahead and move up to the Pre-1 swimming. Which basically is the same skills, but with a teacher instead of mommy.

I was nervous, I admit it. My boy is high energy. He is often the one at church who doesn't get to do X because he has failed to listen and has to have time out. This in the pool is rather terrifying as failing to listen can result in considerably more damage than missing out on play time. On the other hand, that's why we have him learning to swim in the first place. So, with trepidation, we went yesterday and met his two instructors (for a class of about 7) and I sat on the sidelines thinking how young they looked while he and the other kids frolicked in the water.

The doodle is part fish. I will lead with that. Because he adores being in the pool. He doesn't really mind sticking his face in the water, even. (At least not when it's on his terms.) So he's doing well skill-wise. I was really more worried about the listening thing.

He's doing swimmingly at that, as well.

This is a huge relief. And honestly, I kind of think he's being *better* for his teachers than he was for me in our last parent/child class. I'm grateful. But it leaves me conflicted.

See, my intention has always been to homeschool - at least for elementary school. Even though I went to public school, things are not what they were when I was young (no dinosaurs to ride, for example) and, honestly, with as high energy as he is, I don't see him really having a positive, enjoyable time at school where he'll need to sit still and get very little individual attention.

On the other hand...he's really doing well with his swim teachers. (Though he does keep looking for me to flash a big smile and wave.) So the little doubts begin to niggle again...am I doing the wrong thing? Would he thrive more at school?

I've got time to decide. And even then, I know it's not written in stone (it's not as if we can't change our minds no matter what decision we make). But I hate that some of this is simply fueled by insecurity - I want to do the very best by him that I possibly can (and by "the very best", I'm not focusing on him being happy, per se, more just focusing on making the choices that will best raise him to be the man I hope he becomes.) I just wish there was a tag on his back with clear care and handling instructions.

4 comments:

  1. They always behave differently with other teachers than with us. Which can be a good thing! :)

    You're right, though. There's time to decide. You could also test the waters with a preschool or prekindergarten program that's part-time and see how you (and he) like it. If you don't, you can always homeschool. You're the mom--you're in charge of what you want to do.

    That's great that he's enjoying the swim lessons!

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  2. Beth, find me a school where he will be one of seven students and two teachers.

    THEN you can angst about whether to enroll him.

    Until then, you're homeschooling and that's final.

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  3. How he acts in church where he is one of 30 is more indicative of how public school would be!

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  4. What Lynellen said. Both times.

    I worried about that a bit, too. However, my worry was more about socialization with peers. Soccer and other extracurricular activities will help with that lack in Jesse's school life. We're homeschooling because we know that we can give him a better education at home. The other stuff will work out.

    That said, yay for doing well at swimming and having fun at it, too.

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