I never minded going to swimming lessons as we had a level of freedom going to the YMCA. My friend and I were dropped off and it was up to us to get ourselves ready and into our lesson. It was basically a built-in babysitting program.
I don’t remember Mom or Dad ever being in the stands watching like you see parents doing today. They only came to watch when we had our final skills test. After that test – it was determined if we were able to progress to the next level. There was always a sense of anticipation and dread wondering if I was going to pass to the next level. It didn’t always turn out the way I wanted.
Our instructor would demonstrate a technique for us and then one by one, we would have to get in the pool and do what we were being taught. I don’t remember ever being too scared to try something and I don’t remember ever being reluctant to participate. For the most part – it was fun.
The only downside was some of the people that we would encounter in our classes. There was one girl who was fascinated by my long hair. As she was standing behind me, waiting for her turn, she would grab my ponytail and touch it to the palm of her hand. “Can you feel that?” she would ask. “Uuummm – No” I replied. This would happen every week – over and over. So annoying.
The entirety of my lessons were quite uneventful, with the exception of a diving incident. It was during one of the skills tests that the parents were present for. As I was diving off the blocks next to the diving board – I didn’t go straight and I ended up under the diving board. At that same time – someone was diving off the diving board and then landed directly on my back. Needless to say – I had the wind knocked out of me and my swim instructor had to pull me out of the pool.
Looking back, I think the lessons were a good idea and I’m glad that mom made me follow through with that particular family requirement.
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