If You Judge A Fish...

I was such a proud Mama watching Haley and Jake at swim lessons this year. They are both a little timid when it comes to water - and were very reluctant to take lessons - but they really love to swim and both showed big improvements this year. Haley especially didn't want to take lessons because she knew it would push her out of her comfort zone a little bit. I loved watching her every day, pushing a little further, and seeing the look of pride and accomplishment on her face when she did something that was hard for her.

I think that's one of the hardest lessons for me as a parent. My natural instinct is to protect and shield them from everything, and I believe that letting them learn at their own pace is often the best approach. But I know that I also need to encourage them to get out there and try - even if it's hard, or if they fail a few times, or if they don't want to. Seeing them exceed their own expectations - and even my expectations - is pretty amazing.

Look at him go!

Lots of chatting went on near the wall.

Alex entertaining himself...

I had lots of time to ponder while watching lessons several times a week (when I was lucky and Alex's nap coincided with swimming time). For the first few weeks I have to admit I was very annoyed by one of the other moms. Her kids didn't seem very well behaved, she always sat in one of the end seats so everyone had to climb over her to go sit down, and her son was in Jake's class and would splash Jake the whole time. Jake would try to move away or ask him to stop, but it didn't do any good and she didn't seem to notice. In short, I felt a little smug and superior, thinking that she was just clueless. Then one day near the end of the sessions, Alex was dozing and I had time to quietly watch this mother. I noticed that she watched her own kids with the same expression of amazement and pride with which I watched mine. She smiled when they finished a task, and waved to them when they wildly waved their arms and mouthed, "watch me, Mom!" I was instantly humbled as I realized that her priorities were the same (if not better) than mine.

There's a quote from Albert Einstein that I love: "Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid." I felt terrible that I had judged this woman so harshly for such ridiculous reasons. As I left that day I made a point to smile at her, thinking sadly that I could have struck up a friendship with her if I hadn't been too busy judging her - something I will be sure to remember in the future.

Lots of lessons learned for all of us at the Y this summer....