RubyFish

Two weeks ago, our Ruby wouldn't put her face in the water. Swimming is a weekly class for every child at the school here, but it seemed futile for our land-loving girl.

Christmas holiday here has been hot, with temperatures near 100 each day and humidity over 80%. Fortunately, there is a hotel nearby with a nice pool and we decided to make it the pivot point of our little staycation. The first two days we went, both kids spent most of their time in the kiddie pool, and one day I let them wear life vests in the big pool just for a change of pace. Even getting them to take them off and work with me on swimming skills was a struggle.

After a couple of days away from the pool, we returned, expecting more of the same. Ruby, however, apparently had spent her days off practicing in her head, and surprised me by putting on her goggles and going right underwater! After pulling her up and realizing she was not drowning, we practiced a few more times together and the last couple of days at the pool she has been jumping in nonstop!

We had to build in a 'no-swim' day today because Ruby was getting very tired, and a little pink despite liberal sunscreen. But we will hopefully get in one or two more swimming days before school starts again, and will look forward to Tuesday morning Kindergarten swim times for the remainder of the school year!