We went to what will be our final swim lesson until probably sometime after the new year when "spring" lessons start. It'll be too late by the time we get settled to get them into a class, or impossible if they are full.
I reminded the kids' to listen, but right from the moment we got there they were up and down the bleachers and generally just not well behaved. It came time for lessons to start. They walked over and sat by the edge of the pool nicely with their noodles. For awhile it seemed there was hope for this lesson; afterall it's the 3rd one and they kind of know what to expect. Once again the instructor was hilarious. A great guy to teach little kids to swim in my unexpert opinion.
They get into the water and things start to slide. One or the other isn't listening while the instructor speaks. They don't pay attention to demonstrations. At one point near the end of the lesson Lorelei was in the water going around in circles staring up at the sky while Caleb faced the edge of the pool and hopped up and down. Honestly, what is that going to accomplish?
So, then came the end of the lesson and their free time. This is a 10 minute window for the kids to play with balls and stuff in the water. Builds up their comfort and confidence. My two love it. Both get in trouble for going too deep to get balls. Caleb starts throwing rings into the pool (which they weren't given permission to use) and hits the instructor in the head. Really, I was embarrassed at this point.
I'm almost glad that I don't have to take them next week. I got the impression today that I sort of wasted the money to pay for the lessons. I'd really like them to know how to swim, or at least have some survival (floating) and saftey (how to act around water) skills, but after today, I think I'll put them in different classes. Maybe if they aren't together they'll pay a bit more attention.
Showing posts with label lessons. Show all posts
Showing posts with label lessons. Show all posts
01 October 2008
26 September 2008
Friday Update
1. I probably sound like a broken record, but Caleb once again was a Super Speller and a Shining Star! On top of that, the first weekly behavior report came home today and Caleb stayed on green card all week. Green means he didn't have to pull a card, so that means his behavior was very good!
2. Lorelei hasn't been having an issue going into school in the morning anymore. This has made the morning so much easier! I changed some of my tactics and the new ones seem to be working.
3. I took video, and more pictures, from swim lessons this week. Since Lorelei ended up out of the pool, I only got video of Caleb. The only problem is that I've lost both the cord to upload from my phone and my camera, so it may be awhile before anyone gets to lay eye on them. Sorry!
4. We've had behavior issues at home this week. Caleb had a couple of really bad tantrums and we had to take toys away. He's pretty much down to Geo Tracks, Pooh Bear and his collection of Army Men. In addition, he lost his shot at allowance this week. My fingers are crossed that he's gotten the idea and realizes his actions weren't necessary and that we do have rules that he does have to follow...
5. Wednesday was school picture day. Because I tend to think that they are a bit overpriced, I only ordered a class picture for each. I'm hoping that I'll be able to swing an appointment for the two of them before the holiday season at Walmart for a joint picture to give out to family this year. I haven't had any professional, non-school, pictures done since March 2005 and it's about time I do something about that!
6. Last night Lorelei went rock climbing at the Y with Chris. She had a great time and I got to have some time alone with just Caleb.
2. Lorelei hasn't been having an issue going into school in the morning anymore. This has made the morning so much easier! I changed some of my tactics and the new ones seem to be working.
3. I took video, and more pictures, from swim lessons this week. Since Lorelei ended up out of the pool, I only got video of Caleb. The only problem is that I've lost both the cord to upload from my phone and my camera, so it may be awhile before anyone gets to lay eye on them. Sorry!
4. We've had behavior issues at home this week. Caleb had a couple of really bad tantrums and we had to take toys away. He's pretty much down to Geo Tracks, Pooh Bear and his collection of Army Men. In addition, he lost his shot at allowance this week. My fingers are crossed that he's gotten the idea and realizes his actions weren't necessary and that we do have rules that he does have to follow...
5. Wednesday was school picture day. Because I tend to think that they are a bit overpriced, I only ordered a class picture for each. I'm hoping that I'll be able to swing an appointment for the two of them before the holiday season at Walmart for a joint picture to give out to family this year. I haven't had any professional, non-school, pictures done since March 2005 and it's about time I do something about that!
6. Last night Lorelei went rock climbing at the Y with Chris. She had a great time and I got to have some time alone with just Caleb.
24 September 2008
Poor Lorelei!
Oh, I felt so bad for Lorelei tonight!
We went to swimming lessons as planned and everything was going along swimmingly. (haha, Mommy made a funny!) As usual, Caleb and Lorelei were more into splashing and goofing than actually listening, but well, you can't discipline from your spot on the bleachers. About half way through the lesson, Lorelei gets out of the pool to go potty. They tell her she can only go if her mom is with her, so I oblige (of course) and walk her to the bathroom. She has to go #2 real bad. Well, we make it into the bathroom, she gets into the stall, but the swimsuit doesn't quite make it off before the teeniest, tiniest little bit of #2 escapes.
She literally freaks out. I mean, if you've not heard Lorelei scream I can't even begin to describe it, but it's loud and it vibrates and to make matters worse...we're in a locker room bathroom. So, at first, I think maybe it missed her swimsuit, but it has not. So...we have a screaming child who now can not go back into the pool and finish her lesson. Commence more and louder screaming. I leave her in the stall and rush back out to the bleachers by the pool to get her towel and on my way through the locker room grab her clothes. I can hear her saying, "I want my mommy!", in that pathetic sobbing voice that just tugs at your heart.
As soon as she sees her towel and clothes more sobbing, crying and panic. She asks me to wash them out, clean them, use soap...anything...just please don't make her miss the rest of her swim lesson. Unfortunately, this is not something I can accomplish in 30 seconds or less in locker room at a junior high school. I mean, I would have loved to just rinse the suit and let her jump back in...but well, that's just kinda gross.
So, she finally finishes going potty (after almost throwing her towel in the toilet) and sobs her way back into her clothes. We get plenty of tissue for her nose and we head out to the bleachers to watch the rest of the kids finish the swim lesson.
Except, that the little blonde girl sitting just down the bleachers says hi and Lorelei goes down by her to color with pens. She didn't even watch the rest of the swim lesson, or even know when it was over. So...I guess we'll just hope next week is better....
We went to swimming lessons as planned and everything was going along swimmingly. (haha, Mommy made a funny!) As usual, Caleb and Lorelei were more into splashing and goofing than actually listening, but well, you can't discipline from your spot on the bleachers. About half way through the lesson, Lorelei gets out of the pool to go potty. They tell her she can only go if her mom is with her, so I oblige (of course) and walk her to the bathroom. She has to go #2 real bad. Well, we make it into the bathroom, she gets into the stall, but the swimsuit doesn't quite make it off before the teeniest, tiniest little bit of #2 escapes.
She literally freaks out. I mean, if you've not heard Lorelei scream I can't even begin to describe it, but it's loud and it vibrates and to make matters worse...we're in a locker room bathroom. So, at first, I think maybe it missed her swimsuit, but it has not. So...we have a screaming child who now can not go back into the pool and finish her lesson. Commence more and louder screaming. I leave her in the stall and rush back out to the bleachers by the pool to get her towel and on my way through the locker room grab her clothes. I can hear her saying, "I want my mommy!", in that pathetic sobbing voice that just tugs at your heart.
As soon as she sees her towel and clothes more sobbing, crying and panic. She asks me to wash them out, clean them, use soap...anything...just please don't make her miss the rest of her swim lesson. Unfortunately, this is not something I can accomplish in 30 seconds or less in locker room at a junior high school. I mean, I would have loved to just rinse the suit and let her jump back in...but well, that's just kinda gross.
So, she finally finishes going potty (after almost throwing her towel in the toilet) and sobs her way back into her clothes. We get plenty of tissue for her nose and we head out to the bleachers to watch the rest of the kids finish the swim lesson.
Except, that the little blonde girl sitting just down the bleachers says hi and Lorelei goes down by her to color with pens. She didn't even watch the rest of the swim lesson, or even know when it was over. So...I guess we'll just hope next week is better....
17 September 2008
Swimming Lessons: Take One
15 September 2008
Violin?
Both kids came home with a letter about violin lessons today. Caleb isn't interested, but as soon as I pulled the sheet out of her backpack Lorelei said she was. I'm not sure what all the methods of instruction for violin are, but this is the Suzucki (sp?) method. I filled out the slip for more information and hope the price isn't too steep. I also need to call my mom because she and my brother play, so she might have some feedback. I didn't even realize they offered lessons so young!
29 August 2008
Swimming Lessons
I got notification from the parks department that the kids were approved for the swim class I signed them up for. Both are taking level 1 because I'm not really sure where Lorelei should be and Caleb has never had swim lessons before. It's on Wednesday nights from 6-6:50. Hopefully they'll enjoy it and learn some fundamentals for when we go swim at the Y.