- Week One -
Our kids completed their second session of summer swimming lessons two weeks ago. Silas was in Level One. Phoebe was in Level Two. And, Sarah was in Level Four. All three did very well, and Sarah will be moving up to Level Five in her next session, next summer.
Day One
Miss Jill pulled Silas and the two other youngest children in Level One out on the first day to be in her small group. This was fantastic for Silas! Miss Jill is an amazing swim instructor and works well children. She is positive, funny, and fun.
Silas and his two classmates got plenty of individual attention and instruction from Miss Jill. She gave them each a pair of goggles to use everyday, and let them use "magic sticks", to help them keep afloat.
Silas really liked using the "magic stick" every day. He liked it so much that when he didn't get to use it he got really sad and a little anxious and scared that he might drown. We reassured him everyday that Miss Jill would never let him drown, and that he could swim by himself to the side, even in deep water.
Coming down the big blue slide on day one, he came out at the end on his belly, head first. When I asked him about it later, he told me that he had gotten stuck when he was sitting on his bottom so he just turned over.
Phoebe started right out practicing Freestyle and the Backstroke in Level Two.
Sarah continued to practice swimming strokes and diving. She also learned the Dolphin Kick, treading water,
Sarah liked getting to go off the high dive at the end of practice whenever she got the opportunity.
The kids were all thankful and excited that Daddy came and watched them at their swimming lessons today.
Day Two
A few big fluffy clouds were in the sky, but it was great swimming lessons weather!
Day Three
When you have a Mommy who has had skin cancer, you get to learn all about wearing sunscreen and its importance early. Sarah has become great at remembering to put it on and rubbing it in on her face herself. Phoebe and Silas still need a little help to get it everywhere on their faces. We usually use a sunscreen lotion on our faces and a spray on our arms, shoulders, backs, and legs. I am very picky about sunscreens. I don't like the greasy feel and I really don't like the typical sunscreen smell. It is gross and makes me not want to wear it, at all. Let's face it though, having skin cancer is worse than that yucky smell, so sometimes I just have to suck it up and wear the gross stuff, but here is what I have found in my search for good, non-gross smelling, sunscreens that work.... and what we would recommend.....
Some of our favorite sunscreens that we have used this summer and last summer are....
- Coppertone Kids 50 SPF Finding Dory sunscreen continuous spray
- Australian Gold Hello Kitty Mineral Sunscreen Lotion *Sweet Starfruit* 50 SPF
- Australian Gold Hello Kitty Wet/Dry Skin Formula Body Mist Sunscreen *Paradise Pineapple* 50 SPF (my personal favorite spray because of the sweet fruity smell!)
- Mary Kay timewise age-fighting moisturizer sunscreen 30 SPF (Sarah likes this one on days when we will just be outside - not doing a water activity.)
- Neutrogena Beach Defense water + sun protection 30 SPF - water resistant
- elta MD UV Physical Broad Spectrum 41 SPF - lightly tinted and water resistant (This was recommended by my dermatologist and plastic surgeon after my skin cancer surgery and plastic surgery. It is the most expensive of these sunscreens shown here that I use, but worth every penny. It is my first choice to use on my face when selecting a sunscreen for daily wear.)
If you would like to read more about my skin cancer, Mohs surgery, plastic surgery/skin graft, and recovery you can click on the following 3 links below:
Day Four
Popee and Nanee came to watch our little fish today! All three can be in water over their heads now and swim or doggy paddle to get back to the edge of the pool. Way to go kiddos!
- Week Two -
Day Five
Silas shed a few tears on the way to swimming lessons today and at the beginning of his lesson. He has come to depend on the "magic stick" and thinks he "needs" it to swim. After he calmed down for Miss Jill and swam some without it, she let him use it again for part of his lesson.
He likes to jump off the low diving board.
Phoebe loves the water. She always looks determined and happy during her lesson time.
Sarah has been concentrating on perfecting her strokes and getting her hands and head to go into the water first when diving.
She continues to like "penciling" off the high diving board at the end of her lessons each day.
Day Six
Daddy was able to come watch one more lesson time over his lunch hour again! He was impressed with how well each of our kids is doing this summer and all of the improvements they each have made.
Day Seven
Flip-flops are a simple type of footwear in which there is a band between the big toe and other toes. The Hendrickson children's shoe of choice throughout the summertime.... Each child has a couple of pairs and will completely wear them out by the time summer is over. The Flip-flop is the best type of shoe to wear to and from the swimming pool.
Day Eight
On the last day of swimming lessons each of our children practiced their swimming skills one last time and then had a lot of fun with their teachers and swimming friends for the remainder of the lesson time, playing water games, going down slides, and going off diving boards. Popee and Nanee came to watch again today and to see all of the progress that these fish have made.
Silas can jump off the diving board WITHOUT the "magic stick" and swim to the side of the pool all by himself!
Phoebe can swim all the way across the width of the swimming pool (Freestyle) by herself.
Phoebe also can "pencil" off of the high diving board!
Sarah passed Level Four and will be going on to Level Five! Great job, Sarah! You are getting to be a strong and brave swimmer.
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