Category: Swimming

1. Love Is ..... chasing the duck

   Posted on 12:09pm Saturday 9th Feb 2013

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   We love our Water Babies classes and can't shout about them enough but I had to share this week about "chasing the duck". My precious little one has a definate affection for ducks and she plays with her own in the bath, shouting "quack, quack" at every given opportunity.

   So the Water Babies class that we attend are run by "wbchasetheball" (their twitter and facebook name), so chasing the ball or the fish as part of our lessons was undoubtedly inevitable. Last week Nanny said that when "chasing the fish", all our little fish kept saying was "quack quack" .... obviously not the noise that a fish makes but THIS week, we had a duck to chase and she was in her element. 

   I love hearing the stories of how confident she now is in her lessons which are a far cry from the cold, shivering little baby who cried in her first lesson. It makes me so proud to hear how she is the one that the swimming teacher uses to demonstrate the next activity in the water as she is so comfortable.

   So I will continue to shout about how amazing Water Babies are  .... and I am sure the little one will keep shouting "quack quack" at anything in the water that bears the slightest resemblence to a duck! I can't wait to hear about next weeks quack-tastic adventures!

2. How proud am I?

   Posted on 1:07pm Monday 21st Jan 2013

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   I know that every mum is proud of their children and I am quite sure that we all have moments thinking that they are reaching their milestones before other children but at the end of the day, it doesn't really matter when they reach those milestones as long as they are happy, content and not pressurised to do so.

   As regular readers know, my mum takes my youngest daughter to Water Babies classes on a weekly basis ( I hope the snow doesn't stop that this week, otherwise I really will vent, even moreso than I did here) and last week was their best week yet. Mum was brimming with praise and enthusiasm after the lesson, so much so that she text me to say that my little fish was the star pupil! Obviously this is music to my "proud mum" ears but why was she the star pupil? She was totally relaxed in the water, holding on to the side (even trying to climb out herself, I think she forgets she is only 16 months old) and going under the water repeatedly. Apparently she was so good that the swimming teacher kept asking to "use" her to demonstrate what they were going to do next! How proud am I?

   On the flip side, trying to get my eldest to go to swimming lessons has always been a battle, she loves the water but has never been a fan of the lessons. So what happens today? She is upset that the snow means there will be no lesson today! After all this time, on the one day we can't get to swimming lessons, she decides that she actually wants to go. Typical!

   Learning to swim is a life skill and with both my girls being water babies, it makes me a very proud mum!

   What have your children done to make you proud?

    

3. Hold on, hold on, hold on .....

   Posted on 9:24pm Friday 11th Jan 2013

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   Its the New Year and it seems like such a long time since we talked about our Water Babies journey, so it was back to lessons this week but there was no apprehension for the little fish getting back into the water.

   Mum is so relaxed going swimming with her now, she will openly admit that she was a little fraught during the first few weeks but that was more to do with her worrying about getting them both undressed, into the water and then dressed again, than actually just enjoying the lessons. It is a totally different story now, she absolutely loves going swimming with the little fish every week and has really missed it over Christmas.

   Mum's favourite part of this weeks lesson absolutely has to be "hold on, hold on, hold on" where the babies are encouraged to hold onto the side of the pool by themselves. For a few weeks this has been assisted by my Mum but during this lesson, the little one actually held onto the side independently. I was totally amazed when she told me.

   We actively go swimming with the girls and their confidence in the water is amazing to see. The little one loves lying on her tummy in the bath and almost dives down into the water. I love that knowing when we go on holiday later in the year, that my girls will have no fear of the water and thats why Water Babies get my vote in the Tommy's Baby Friendly Awards this year! If you think so too, the link is here

   

    

4. My favourite posts of 2012

   Posted on 8:30pm Sunday 30th Dec 2012

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   Inspired by Mummy Never Sleeps  who created her top ten posts from the year, I thought it was a fantastic chance to go through some old posts and show some love again to my favourites.

   I know this is a little self indulgent but in the absence of chocolate, this is my guilty pleasure this evening! So here we go ....

   One of my most honest and intimate posts was The End of an Era and ironically it ended up being one of the most popular. Maybe I should always speak direct from my heart?

   I loved the Olympics and this is what inspired this post. When sharing it on social media, it also caused a real conflict of opinion, so What makes Britain Great?

   I am very proud that both of my girls love the water and this is the start of their story : Learning a Life Skill

   I was horrified and astounded when my youngest bit me and this post poked at my smug mummy conscience! What do you do when your child bites you?

   Am I a pushy parent? I never thought I was "that" parent but I think we all have a little bit of it inside us.

   I have really enjoyed going through my old posts and whilst it has been extremely gratuitous, reminding myself of our journey this year has made me smile. Hope you did too?

   Goodbye 2012, its been a blast!