Under Pressure

In today's Waterbabes session, Sera tried to float on her back ... without much success. She was very unhappy being on her back for two reasons - she couldn't partake in 'people watching' therefore the reflex jolting upwards when she was laid on her back. And secondly, the strange sensation of having water seep into her ears. Well, I figured we were in no hurry to float backwards ... so no stress, no worries!

I think, for the most part, I'm a pretty laid back parent. The fact that we have joined this swimming class is quite a big leap for me and maybe for Johan too. My parents too, were pretty relaxed parents who hardly succumbed to the pressures of enrolling my brother and me in every imaginable 'enrichment activity' that was available. I remember I used to be very puzzled at how busy my friends were after school and during the weekends. And believe me, many were not too happy or excited about their 'enrichment activities'. So till today, I'm very grateful for the un-pressurizing and less structured manner of how we were raised. Hmm, where was I? Oh yes, Sera's swimming lesson.

The MAIN reason why we signed Sera up for swimming lessons was really for her social well-being. It's true! Personally I don't believe in swimming lessons, especially when no one in my family has taken a swimming lesson before. I still remember my grandfather throwing me into the adult pool when I was a wee little thing. Okay, I don't recommend every parent do that but my point is that learning new skills can be done in unconventional ways, not necessarily in a structured and methodical manner.

So before I side-track again ...

During Waterbabes today, I felt like I was back in school again. While I was getting ready to enter the pool with Sera, one mother casually came up to me ...

Mother: "So have you been practising?"
Me: "Hmm ... Oh! (I was initially confused by her vague question) ... yes?"
Mother: "What have you been practising?"
Me: "Oh, just swishing in the water, some submerging ... "

End of conversation, because the teacher had started singing 'Humpty Dumpty', which meant the mothers were all supposed to be in the pool with their babies sitting on the edge.

In the water, I bumped into another mother.

Mother: "Do you have a pool in your compound?"
Me: (oh boy, here we go again) "Yes"
Mother: "How many times do you go to the pool with your daughter?"
Me: "Well, about two to three times a week."
Mother: "Oh ...... "

Strange conversations, won't you say? I tried not to think too much about them but I couldn't help but remember those kind of conversations with certain schoolmates back in my schooling years. The smell of pressure and competition!

Anyway, Sera and I had a good time together. We did a few more submerging, 'jumping turtles', lots more swishing and whooshing and next week, we'll try 'diving duckie'.

Okay, I can't resist this ... but while I was getting Sera out of her wet swimsuit, I (unintentionally) eavesdropped on a pair of mothers from the next class, having the same 'investigative' conversation I had with those two mothers! I just couldn't help but smile.