We gave up on swimming lessons around the time that Bronson was 3 months old. The pool was always freezing, the kids didn't enjoy themselves and we found the instruction to be, not instructional. No one noticed when we stopped going regularly.
However, Rowan did occasionally mention wanting to go swimming and so John decided that he'd start taking Rowan to open swims on Thursdays. We've gone as a family three times now and we love it. We have the pool mostly to ourselves, we aren't forced to participate in the dorky songs sung by a teenage chinese boy who has his own version of the lyrics and tunes (which was actually quite comical) and there is no pressure.
Both boys are very comfortable in the water. I knew Bronson loved water but I was still surprised by his lack of fear. He dunks and sticks his face to blow bubbles or drink constantly. He spurts and sputters but he doesn't blink an eye at almost drowning. Instead he does it again. He also likes to crawl like a little demon along the edge of the pool and squeal. The he "jumps" in even if we aren't ready for him.
Rowan used to be very good in the water. We then went through a period where he was nervous. But this little bit of family time in the pool has lead to a little man who actually should probably be taking real instructions from a swimmer instead of from us. He is able to jump off the side of the pool unassisted, he climbs in and out on his own, he floats in a life jacket without us holding on to him, he can hold on to the side of the pool and kick and I can feel him lifting out of the water as he doggie paddles. He is still reluctant to dunk but is able to do it if we don't tell him it's coming. He loves being in the water with us and he too isn't really bothered by the occasional mouth and nose full of pool.
It's a wonderful thing to do as a family and I think that we enjoy it just as much as the boys do. I can't wait to go again.
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