Mary Bianco

>From: kbcdlovejo@...

<<The only thing we haven't unschooled is swimming. I'm pretty adamant
that my kids know how to swim. We're around water all the time, and I
think it's an important thing to know. I've told them that either I
will teach them or they can take lessons. My son just opted to drop
lessons and have me continue teaching him. As soon as they're
proficient swimmers, we'll stop. But I wasn't willing to wait until
whatever age they thought it would be good to learn to swim. I guess
because I've pulled a 7 year old boy from a river where he would've
drowned, I've got strong feelings on this one. Everything else I'm
willing to be patient with.>>



Well I almost drowned when I was 7 and we live in FL and we have a pool. But
I was adamant about unschooling swimming too!! Before this house we went
swimming often at my SIL's. Tara had learned on her own when she was about
5-6. My SIL (another one) that works in the school system was telling me
about swim lessons that were great. I listened and left it go at that. When
we moved into this house with a pool, she started up again. I asked Joseph
and Sierra if they wanted to go. I explained what it was and then they said
they didn't want to do that. THAT went over big with the SIL. LOL!!!

So they wore their swimmies and we left them alone as far as teaching
anything in the pool. We moved in here in August of 2000 and by Oct. they
were swimming without the swimmies. Sometimes when they were tired they
would put them back on. The following summer they became fish.

So that's 3 and 1 to go. Alyssa is 2 and loves the pool and wears her
swimmies. We have a pool safety fence and the kids are well aware of what to
do if anyone gets into trouble in the pool. The children swim much better
than I do. Eventually Alyssa will also.

Mary B



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I don't swim. Took lessons twice, couldn't get it.


Kirby and Marty took lessons. Kirby hated the lessons, can swim but doesn't
do it for fun.

Marty liked them, swims, not as well as Holly.

Holly learned mostly from friends who have a pool at their apartment complex,
from playing games in the water. She isn't afraid of jumping off high diving
boards (doesn't dive, just jumps feet first). And when most of the extended
Dodd family got a pontoon boat and spent two days on a lake, Holly had no
fear of jumping off that boat into Elephant Butte Lake, which is deep. Marty
wasn't afraid to ride a Jetski. So they're both good for safety purposes.

Keith, who had all kinds of red cross and swimming training as a boy scout
and from just being that kind of guy has taught them a few things, just
informally, conversationally and playing games, about how to help someone
who's in trouble.

Marty says Hollys a better swimmer because she didn't learn it in swim
classes.

Sandra

Jon and Rue Kream

" I don't swim. Took lessons twice, couldn't get it. "

Sandra - Do you wish you could? When I was thirty I realized that I was
really tired of watching other people swim and feeling like there was no
way I could ever learn and determined that I *would* learn that summer.
Swimming is one of the most amazing feelings for me! ~Rue




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In a message dated 1/30/03 3:23:28 PM, skreams@... writes:

<< Sandra - Do you wish you could? When I was thirty I realized that I was
really tired of watching other people swim and feeling like there was no
way I could ever learn and determined that I *would* learn that summer.
Swimming is one of the most amazing feelings for me! >>

Keith tried to just play around with me in the water to see what my problem
was <g>.
He was pulling me along and I didn't FEEL like I was afraid of the water, but
Keith says I was acting like it. So maybe my brain says it's okay but my
body's saying "OH no, I'm not cooperating." I'm not sure.

It DOES look wonderful.

I can harmonize several styles of traditional music. I can write quickly and
I can sew.
If I spend the rest of my life doing THOSE things and staying out of water,
I'll have lived with a little lack, but at least I won't drown!

Sandra

Jon and Rue Kream

" He was pulling me along and I didn't FEEL like I was afraid of the
water, but
Keith says I was acting like it. So maybe my brain says it's okay but
my
body's saying "OH no, I'm not cooperating." "

My dad, who's in his 70's, is terrified of water. He tenses up when
he's even near a pool, so he's convinced that his body is the one human
body that physically does not float. This summer when he looked like he
was going to pass out in the heat I coaxed him into sitting on a big
step in our pool, and he was shocked to realize that when he didn't pay
close attention his legs floated up! When I told him that if he could
just relax his whole body would float he looked at me like I was crazy.
Maybe next summer :0). ~Rue


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In a message dated 1/30/03 10:00:25 PM Eastern Standard Time,
SandraDodd@... writes:

> Keith tried to just play around with me in the water to see what my problem
> was <g>.
> He was pulling me along and I didn't FEEL like I was afraid of the water,
> but
> Keith says I was acting like it. So maybe my brain says it's okay but my
> body's saying "OH no, I'm not cooperating." I'm not sure.
>
>

My best friend is exactly the same way. She says she is OK but tightens up
and tenses when in the water over her hips. She has basically accepted that
she doesn't swim and uses one of those big inner tubes to float all day.
LOL. She says she is coming over to the house to come float.
Pam G.


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