swimming lessons

I grew up in the Pacific Northwest, where backyard pools were rare.  I didn't attend a pool party until after I had graduated from college.  I was terrified of deep water and scoped out the life jacket situation every time I set foot on a boat.  Not surprising, then, that I didn't really learn how to swim until I went to college and had to pass a swim test to graduate.

Now living on the East Coast, where the summers are hot and pool parties are a staple, I vowed that my son would know how to swim.  So I signed him up for swim lessons at age 4.  Oh, how far we have come since then.  In the past two years, he has gone from screaming at the edge of the pool, refusing to get in, to jumping in and swimming.  He LOVES it now. 

My only regret is not signing him up earlier.  I had heard or read somewhere that it wasn't worth putting kids in swim lessons until they are 4 years old, but I wish we had started him when he was smaller, so that he could get comfortable in the water.  But we're getting there!  He gets more independent each week, and is so proud of himself when he does something new.  And Mommy is proud, too.