Stubborn Child...part 2

Now for the update...

At practice tonight, we arrived about 15 minutes early, and I got in with him.  We splashed around some, and actually swam a length of freestyle and backstroke, with no problem.  But boy, that is one long pool when you're only 3' 8" tall.  It takes a lot of strokes to get from one end to the other.

He made it through practice, with me swimming beside him the whole way.  He followed the coaches instructions, and was actually asked to demonstrate how to do backstroke kicking.  He was the only one of the 6 & under boys who could do it without sinking!

By the end of the 30 minute practice, he was exhausted and broke down crying halfway through his last lap.  We were both freezing...it was 60 degrees with a howling wind, so even though the water was relatively warm, it was frigid for any part of our body outside the water.  Tomorrow should be warmer, and I'm hopeful that his confidence has been boosted enough to try again.  I'm not ready to place any bets yet...stay tuned.

Stubborn child...Stubborn mommy

Last year, Olivia joined a local summer league swim team.  She loved it, and it was a great family experience as well.  Jack enjoyed watching her, and talked about being a "Shark" too.

Starting in January of this year, we put Jack in weekly lessons, with the hope of him being ready for swim team too.  He's been talking about it for months.  He even got a "Shark" towel, complete with fin.

Yesterday was the first practice.  Jack talked excitedly all day long about swim team starting, and swimming with Olivia.  

We got to the pool about 15 minutes before practice started, so we wouldn't be rushed.  Jack got lined up with Olivia, put his cap on, put his feet in the water, and promptly refused to participate.  He was like a lead weight, glued to the ground.  No amount of convincing or bribing would change his mind.  The pool was too big, there was too much splashing, what if he sank?  Plus about 50 more concerns and complaints.

I couldn't even talk to him, because my stubborn side wanted to push him in and say "SWIM, Darnit"!  So I let Steve deal with him.  I'm thankful for his kindness, patience and understanding.  He's much better than I am in situations like this.  About 20 minutes into practice, Jack agreed to put his feet back in the water, but that was as far as he got.

Tonight, we'll try again.  This time, the coaches said I can swim with him to reassure him that he can make it.  He's a good little swimmer, and I know he can do it.  He just doesn't know it yet.  

I know his stubborn streak will be helpful someday, when it comes to peer pressure and influences.  He knows what's right, and what he wants to do, and doesn't stray.  But I also want him to learn to try new things and give things a chance.  

Change is good, isn't it?

I have spent 7 out of the past 9 years serving in Relief Society, over the Home, Family & Personal Enrichment program.  I served as both Enrichment Leader, and then more recently, as the counselor in the presidency over this program.  It was a love/hate relationship - I sometimes dreaded the planning and executing of events and yet really enjoyed it as well.

Today, I was released from my calling, and asked to serve as a Primary teacher for the 6-7 year old class.  I have only taught in Primary once before, for about 3 months.  While I am looking forward to the change, I also am feeling very sad about leaving Relief Society.  I have really enjoyed the sisterhood and spirit that I feel each week and am not quite sure about how much spiritual growth I will experience wrangling the kids in primary.  I do believe that I was given this assignment/calling for a reason and I will do my very best to make sure that the kids actually learn something, most of all, that they are children of God.  

Now, I can attend Enrichment and not worry about all the logistics.  I can come late, leave early, and not lift a finger (okay, Stefanie, if you're reading this, I hope you know I'd never actually do that!).  But I'll miss it.  But change is good, right?

Name That Shape

Olivia started Geometry this week in school.  She's in 3rd Grade.  Geometry was not my strong subject, and 20 years out of school has not increased my knowledge.

Yesterday, she had a homework assignment naming some various geometric shapes.  She and I were both stumped on this one:

Jack, watching from over our shoulders, piped up and announced "It's a trapezoid".  While my first reaction was that he was an absolute genius, I quickly (and calmly) asked him how he knew that.  He said "From my Diego game on my Leapster". 

So all the time he spends playing video games on the computer and his Leapster has not gone to waste.  He's actually learned something.  And being able to correctly identify a trapezoid will get him far in life, I'm sure of it.

Caught in the Act

I heard a shaking sound coming from the kitchen today.  I didn't pay much attention, until it continued for a couple of moments.  I walked in, and this is what I found:

A brand new box of Honey Nut Cheerios, spilled all over the floor.  

Grant had gotten out the broom, and was actually trying to clean them up.  How could I be mad?  Or even irritated?  All I could do was smile, and help him clean up the mess and dump the Cheerios into the garbage (I don't think the floor was clean enough to eat off of...).

Apparently, Grant was hungry.

The definition of stress

Several months ago, a good friend of mine told me the true definition of STRESS:

"It's when you can't possibly take on one more thing, and you find yourself opening your mouth and saying "Sure, I'd be glad to.""  That's it, in a nutshell.

I enjoy the many different interests, separately, in my life.  I enjoy my church calling, and the good feelings that result from my service.  I enjoy volunteering at Olivia's school, teaching the FAME (Fine Arts Mini Experience) program each month.  I enjoy the extra-curricular activities that each of the kids participate in, and the feelings of confidence, success and self-satisfaction they are creating in each of them.  I enjoy (mostly) the tasks and chores that come with being a stay-at-home-mom - I don't mind cooking, picking up toys, doing laundry, etc., and take pride in being a good housewife (by industry standards of course...)

And yet some days, when everything is happening at once, and everyone needs me in every different location, this is how I feel:

Today is one of those days.