day 581:
if there is one thing that you should persevere with as a parent then I think that it's swimming lessons....well also singing, dancing and reading.....and i guess, eating vegetables and potty training (probably not a good idea to give up on either of those two)......but swimming is such an easy one to give up on.....especially in the cold, blustery, Winter months in London. although, I do need to caveat that by saying that it's now Jae (Limi's nanny) who tackles the cold and wet on a weekly basis.
but between the three of us, I'm so glad that we have persevered every week since she was 4 months old. not only because Limi is now obsessed with water and swimming (and who can deny someone 30 minutes a week of such unadulterated glee) but also because I am astounded by how comfortable she is in the water. instead of clinging to us, it's more a case of us clinging to her to stop her from swimming off.
years ago, I did an underwater shoot at a baby swimming school in Cape Town and having seen beneath the surface just how comfortable these babies were in the water, I was sure that it was the most natural thing to learn to swim from as young as possible. i am so happy that water for Limi is something wonderful and safe rather than foreign and scary. and also incredibly grateful to Jae for obviously making it such a fun lesson.
this blog is very rarely used for preaching....but people, swimming....seriously.......as important as carrots....in my opinion.
