A Quick Swim

Last Saturday I took the older three to the YMCA's open house. They were thrilled to get to swim in the YMCA pool. They have been asking and asking to go swimming, but it's hard to fit it in with the boys' karate schedule and Viva's schedule of dance, cheer, and gymnastics. Viva is no longer doing cheer (which she is sad about), so we had some extra time Saturday and the YMCA had free pool time, so it was a good match.

The rule at the YMCA is that you have to wear a life vest or take a short swim test to show your skills. This was a problem for Jake. He stated that he would not take a swim test and he was not going to wear a life vest. *sigh* Nonetheless he got dressed in his swimsuit and came to the pool with his siblings.

I told Bentley and Viva that they should go first and let Jake take the swim test last so he could watch them and see how easy it was. He was still quite traumatized and was crying on the pool deck. I reminded him he did not have to take the test, but as I mentioned he certainly did not want to wear a life vest if his siblings weren't going to be wearing one.

There were two other kids who needed to be tested when the trio showed up. The first boy jumped in and swam the half length of the pool as required. The girl next in line told the life guard she couldn't swim. (Huh? Why join the swim test line?!) He told her to go get a life vest on. Bentley jumped in and swam to the end of the pool. Viva jumped in and swam to the end of the pool. Jake jumped in and swam to the end of the pool. Crisis ended happily.

They played in the pool for 45 minutes until the pool was emptied. At the YMCA at the top of the hour they make everyone in the pool get out for ten to fifteen minutes while the life guards take a break. Then they do new testing for anyone joining free swim and then it's back in the pool. The problem is how do you stay warm for that ten to fifteen minutes?

Lincoln was very sad not to be able to go, but even had I wanted to join the kids in the pool (and then Lincoln could have come with us), it would have been too cold for him to enjoy. And what about Evan?! I'm not sure the YMCA is going to work out for us. ARG!