Swimming lessons and cover models
I’m hearing a vast majority voting for Viggo. 
But, I have started watching “Troy.” It’s a little slower than I’d like, and I feel like Orlando Bloom is reprising his Pirates role. But we’ll see how it plays out. Helen doesn’t have a whole lotta personality going on at the moment. This may or may not improve.
My hubby is on travel at the moment which means I am having a Chick Flick Extravaganza. Last night I rented “Troy,” “The Lake House” (on Beth’s recommendation), and “The Devil Wears Prada.” I am putting the children to bed at 6:30 in order to get my movie-watching in. Ha! Take that! :batman: No, really, I’m serious. They do go to bed at 7:00 p.m. usually. Hey, they’re four and two. It’s not like I give them any choice in the matter. And how else would I get any writing done? (Yes, they pay me back by getting up at 5:30 in the morning. Oh well.)
I do have my priorities, though. After the kidlets are in bed, I have to do my nightly pages. The past few days have been a little weird because I had to delete a 6-page prologue 
and weave all that information into the first chapter. Ow-ow-ow, that hurt. It’s caused some backward progress, but I *think* I have the opening on the right track now. I am adding more character details, much deeper point-of-view for the hero, and as much intensity as I can muster.
So, back to the other topic. Swimming lessons. My son has been enrolled at the YMCA swim classes for the past year. Still can’t swim. He’s a wonderful kid, but in his heart, I think he believes he can’t do it. I’m beginning to believe the approach of tossing him over the side and letting him work it all out may be the only solution. Of course, then I’d probably be arrested for attempting to drown my kid. 
Sometimes I wonder what’s the best way to help him. I’ve tried to sign him up for private lessons, but I haven’t had anyone call me back in the past several months I’ve requested it.
Any thoughts? How did you learn how to swim? If you have kids, how did they learn?
Michelle posted in Writing @ 10:18 pm | Viewed 1866 times
Allison Littlehales Says:
Okay, watch Troy only for Brad, and possibly Eric. Helen does not and never will have any personality.:loser:
Edward has been attending swimming lessons for two years now and still can’t swim.
I have come to the conclusion it’ll happen when he’s ready and not before. Threats, bribes or even the knowledge that his baby sister will shortly be in the same group as him made no difference. At least he’s exercising.
Robyn Says:
Their friends actually taught my kids to swim. Sometimes other kids just have a better touch, I guess.
Eric Bana is the only reason to watch Troy. Hector’s creed: Honor the gods, love your woman, fight for your country.” THAT’S a MAN!
I loved The Lake House. I read a lot of time travel romance, so I’ll be interested to see if you guess the surprize ending like I did. Doesn’t spoil the movie, though.
Nicole Reising Says:
Great job on the writing! And for swimming, my two oldest did best with private. Group just didn’t work. Private, they took off with and Tanner my middle one was jumping off the high dive when every life guard around swore he couldn’t pass the swimming test, cause he was so small — guess what? He did! It was awesome! For Carter, we’ll definitely enroll him in private even though it costs a bundle. I wish I could teach them, but I apparently don’t have the patience needed.
Cole
beth Says:
Eric Bana is about the only decent thing in Troy. And he’s not even enough to make me want to see it again. I’d have to think long and hard given the opportunity to earn $1M just by sitting through it again. Bleh. (I do hope you liked it better than that though - I have a little Pitt-hate in my heart, so I know that doesn’t help.)
Good luck with the swimming! Maybe he’s just not ready yet?
Melissa Says:
I’d have to agree with Beth - Eric Bana makes the movie, otherwise, it’s pretty bad. I hate Orlando’s character - he is such a WUSS.
I took swimming lessons, but the never “took” as I still can’t swim.
Melissa Mc Says:
Enjoy your movies. I feel your pain at having to cut and weave. Hugs.
As for swimming, my son is 6. This summer he finally figured out swimming. This after a year of private lessons (and instructor making me leave because son would cry and look at me for sympathy) and then taking a year break from them and going into a regular summer class that met every day for 10 days in a row. He went through two sessions like that. Beginning and end of summer. On Sunday he competed in the Championship CYO swim meet and placed second in most of his races and was in the faster heats.
Give your son time. When he’s ready it’ll happen. You can’t push it. I tried and so have other friends. You’ll only waste money, energy and time if you keep trying. And you could make him hate the water.
If anything take the lesson money and go stay at a hotel with an indoor pool and let him play rather than force lessons. He’ll see how much fun it can be and that’s the start to his wanting to do more in the water.
Michelle Says:
You know, I’m thinking you ladies are right. He’s probably not ready. My hope was that at least he could learn how to stay above water. We’ll keep trying!
Susie Says:
Our son was in the “pike” swimming classes at the Y for a year, before he graduated to being an “eel”. We initially tried group lessons with a parent (didn’t work), private lessons (some progress), and then pike lessons with 4 other kids his age. My son also learned from fun pool outings with his cousins who love to swim.
Kelly Says:
Learning to swim 101, by my father.
Take 2 year old out into the lake until you are chest high in the water.
Throw said 2 year into the water.
Tell them to swim to shore.
Yup, my Dad liked the sink or swim method. Luckily I had a strong sense of self-preservation even at that young age and my Mom couldn’t dog paddle out fast enough to save me, so I paddled in to her. And that was the start of my swimming career. I ended up getting all my badges and qualifying for my bronze medallion 2 years before the age limit allowed you to take it. THen I taught swimming in my teens and life-guarded for a few years.