Water Babies

Today I had quite an emotional experience. I can be emotional, don't get me wrong, I'm good at showing my feelings! But this was a feeling which took me quite by surprise.
My little step-granddaughter, who is now 17 months old, has been attending Water Babies since she was about 3 months old. Emma, her mum takes her and we've been to a class and watched as she has splashed about, happy to be dunked underwater, and admired some wonderful photos of her underwater too.
Water Babies is a concept which was started about 10 years ago by a couple who enjoyed swimming with their young children. The main aim is to teach parents how to teach their children to swim and enjoy the water. At such a young age babies are able to control their breath underwater which is quite a strange thing to get your head round but a wonderful thing.

A few months ago a newly pregnant Emma asked if I would be prepared to come along to Water Babies and take Baby No2 swimming. After all how would she juggle two swimming babies? Of course I said yes, I'd love to.
Well today was that day. Me and the little man, we had our first swimming lesson together. So what you may say. Well if I told you that it was the first time we had met each other because he was only born 5 days ago perhaps you may understand my excitement/trepidation/emotion.

He was sleeping when we met, in fact, he slept through his sisters swimming lesson, he slept while his mum was trying to feed him and when she changed him into what seemed like a massive swimming suit!
He slept when I handed him to the instructor as she demonstrated how to safely get baby and yourself into the pool. He slept when I gently wet his face, when we 'splish splashed' around the pool and he even slept when he got his first underwater experience.
Basically he slept from start to finish, I was relieved to say the least because I was so worried he would start crying and then what? Oh yes, try to get him to stop.

I should just point out here that I am not the maternal sort. I never have been really, children were never really my thing, nor did I desire any of my own. When I met my husband, I did think it would be nice to try and have a family of our own. However one vasectomy reversal and two IVF treatments later, it hasn't happened and to be honest I'm quite glad. I'm quite a selfish person really, I like my tidy house, I like being able to do things when I want to and hubby and I enjoy ourselves with the grandchildren! Our dog is our baby I suppose and she does as she is told so we're happy.
I never had young children around me before they came along so I've sort of learnt what to do along with their parents really. I love them to bits, I enjoy showing them things, playing with them. However I can honestly say it hasn't made me regret not having my own!

Today however I almost floated home. my head was filled with the extraordinary experience I had just had. I felt extremely privileged and honoured that Emma and her partner had asked me to be the one to take their precious son swimming. I thank them for giving me that wonderful experience which I will treasure forever. And every week me and the little man will improve our swimming together. I can't wait.



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