Let’s Go Swimming!

Saturday, Connor began swimming lessons. At first, he seemed a bit tentative. He wasn’t sure what to make of this large body of water cluttered with other kids and parents. Most of those parents were of the male variety while the mommies stayed on the side taking photos and laughing at their husbands who had been reduced by a very enthusiastic teacher to singing songs like “Itsy Bitsy Spider” and “Hokey Pokey”. It was a marvelous sight to behold.
Ed, naturally, took this lesson to a whole new level. Here, the teacher is chanting Humpty Dumpty and although she jumped very excitedly when Humpty had a great fall, most of the parents tended to sort of slip their children off the side of the wall into the water. Ed threw Connor in the air – and Connor squealed with delight.

One thing I had been fairly certain of was confirmed in this lesson. Connor is not so much a rules follower. Perhaps it’s because we have few rules for him to follow so he doesn’t have a lot of experience, but in general he’d prefer to do what he wants, when he wants. This is not surprising. He is Ed’s son, after all. This means that when asked to follow directions, Ed is tasked with not only figuring out what they’re supposed to be doing, but also figure out how to get Connor to actually do it rather than complaining about wanting to do something else. I say, serves him right!

Elaine