At our pool, kids under 14 need to take a swim test to determine what areas they can be in. The wristbands use the stop light system. Red...stay in the shallow end, yellow...a little deeper, but a larger area to play and green...go where you want, including the tube slide.
R &S have been green the past two summers. L has been content to stay in red. Until this summer. His brothers and our friends, who we generally go to the pool with, have free reign. L was starting to feel left out. We practiced while we were on vacation and he did surprisingly well. Our first time back at the pool, he was ready to go for yellow.
Mission: swim half the length of the pool and float on your back for 30 seconds.
He was ready and passed with flying colors! L was determined to do it before he turned 6...and he did, by one day.
As proud as he was to have a yellow band, there was one more hurdle to jump. Less than a week later, he wanted to go for green.
Mission 2: Swim the whole length of the pool and tread water for 30 seconds.
He had not once once of fear and his only question was if his chin and mouth could go in the water while treading water. The lifeguard nodded yes and with that, he was ready to go. My little fish went on his way with his goggles and unique swimming style. He made it! He climbed out to get his green band and went straight to the slide!
Now, all three boys are green and my littlest fish has the freedom to follow his big brothers. He is not the strongest swimmer, so I will still have to be extra diligent in keeping my eye on him. That's OK, because I am so proud that he had a goal, went for it and achieved it. My baby is growing up!!
4 weeks left of summer...and we are going to enjoy it as much as we can!!!
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