Everyone needs confidence.  Without it you won’t even try.  But confidence cannot be given by another, it must be found within.  And therein is the problem with my youngest.  When it comes to swimming, he has no confidence in himself.

After years and years of being taught by me, I know he can swim.  The pools in the small town where we live require all children to cross the length of the pool on their stomachs before they can either be without a parent or a lifejacket.  I refuse to let any child of mine be in a lifejacket while in a pool situation, so he’s stuck with mommy whenever we go.  He doesn’t like it, but every time we try to pass that infernal swim test, he panics at the length of the 25meter pool.  He can’t even go ten feet before his head pops up and starts screaming his tummy hurts.  Good grief!  If you give the boy a shorter pool, say 10meters, he’ll cross is back and forth all day long, but 25meters…in his little mind, it can’t be done.

It’s so frustrating for me, wishing he’d just let go and put a little faith in himself.  Or Jeeze, how about a little faith in me as not only his instructor but mommy.  I’d never have him do something that would put him in harm’s way, but he thinks I’m trying to kill him.  I guess only time will tell which one of us is right.