Annalee went to one of the freshwater pools in Austin today -- twice, once with Mommy and once with Daddy. We've got our angel in swim lessons on Thursday evenings, and it's our belief that being in water more often can't hurt. As for the separate trips to the pool on a Friday, Daddy and Annalee went during Mom's work day, and it turned out that, great as that was (and it was), Mom's absence had been keenly felt. Annalee is feeling more comfortable in the water, as exhibited by reaching down into water as deep as she is to get my watch off the bottom twice today. It's how I was taught to swim, more or less, and it pairs the fascination with bright shiny objects with our instinctive ability to hold our breath and draw ourselves forward. I'm trying to be patient with the swim instruction in the class, though it appears to me that they're on a pace for the kids to be safe and secure on their own in the water ten to twelve years from now. If somehow, through the combination of everyone's efforts (Mommy's, Daddy's, and the swim instructors'), Annalee ends up loving water the way I did throughout my childhood and ever since, then that would be a good thing.

Posted with permission from Dad Writes

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