Sink or Swim

Today the twins began a new swim class.  Last year’s ISR technique (affectionately renamed “drown the baby”) worked beautifully for Stephen and was a disaster for Rachel.  After her repeated vomiting in the pool and panic attacks at the mention of her swim teacher’s name, I decided this year we would at least try another approach. 

So we joined a more user-friendly class that has songs, games, and a sweet young instructor.  After talking it up as “swim games” instead of “swim class”, we were keeping it positive…got the suits on with smiles…and then 45 seconds before they called their names, the disaster of twins struck.  The laid back child squatted and tensed his face…In a slow motion “Noooooooo” I swept him up in my arms and whisked him to the potty to find a swim diaper full of sh*t.  Thus began his crying.  I tossed my wallet to a buddy and asked her to buy me the biggest swim diaper they sold.  I couldn’t bear to wash out the nasty swim diaper and then try to squeeze a WET swim diaper that was already a size too small onto a crying 2 year old.  

While cleaning up the first part of the disaster, the instructor called Rachel’s name.  Without her shadow AND her mom, this sent her nerves over the edge into a complete meltdown that lasted until the final 90 seconds of class.  I let her take fluffy into the pool area…which helped, until she put it in the water and then lost it due to a wet fluffy.  In a matter of 20 minutes, I think she gave the instructor a fair taste of how stubborn she plans to be.  Meanwhile, Stephen sat happily next to his friend Megan and loved every minute of swimming. So again, totally different environment, but a beautiful class for Stephen and a disaster for Rachel.  Hmm…perhaps a trend?

After returning home, Rachel – who has been potty trained for 6 months, smiled at me when she told me she had pooped her pants.  The revenge of a 2 year old.   Then when her dad asked how swim class was – she said it was good, and she got a shower at the end.  6 days 20 more hours until our next class.