Swimming with Mrs. Mona

Today was Campbell’s last swimming lesson with our town’s legendary swim teacher, who also happens to live in our neighborhood, Mrs. Mona.

This was the first time Campbell had taken lessons.  She’s always been great in the water and had no fear jumping but of course with swimmies or a life jacket.  I’ve also feared that she wouldn’t realize the difference or forget and decide to jump in by herself without anything on.  That fear and the fact that it was time for her to learn the basics led me to sign her up for Mrs. Mona’s session one class. 

So for the last 2 weeks we have walked down to Mrs. Mona’s for swimming lessons and fun.  Campbell has loved it!  She quickly adapted to her class and teachers and thankfully never was one to get scared or cry.

After class, we walk home and it gives us some time to talk all by ourselves.  One evening we saw two of our elderly neighbors and got to get and give flowers to them.  It has reminded me how nice our neighborhood is and I should take a walk more often, not running or listening to music but just a nice walk or even a little skip as Campbell likes to do!

In swimming lessons, Campbell learned to make a bullfrog face, hold her thumb and swim, jump off the diving board and freestyle….well, the beginnings of it anyway.

She was really surprised and glad to recognize a few friends, Emma & Charlee, and she met some new ones as well.

It was a great experience and I can understand why Mrs. Mona has been teaching for over 30 years  now!!  In fact, my brothers took from her and I remember getting to go and swim in the deep end while she taught the class. 

Here’s some pictures from some of the classes:

Campbell, Emma & Charlee

Mrs. Mona explaining how she has to hold her thumb

Campbell under the water kicking and waving to Mrs. Mona

The class lined up and practicing putting their arms up over their ears

swimming in the deep end

Campbell & Emma hamming it up

Campbell practiced her lessons at home, even out of the water!  This is Campbell showing us how you have to hold your thumb and stick your fingers up.

Trying to get those arms up and lean her body over

practicing their windmills and cupping their hands

Jumping in (holding her thumb!)…

and swimming freestyle to Mrs Mona.

 

on the diving board

the last night the kids got some play time at the end of class, picking up pool toys off the bottom and getting to ride on Mrs Mona’s fish.  Campbell spied that big fish earlier in the class and said “Mrs Mona, I can’t borrow your fish because its not mine…probably?” and then later when the kids were taking their turns riding, some of the others on the side of the pool were kicking the water and kicking the float. Campbell moved off to the side by herself and told Mrs Mona she was sad because those kids were kicking her fish!

After class.  Each day, Mrs. Mona would have a treat for the kids: popsicle or candy.  Campbell would always have some one on one time with Mrs Mona asking her about her cat or her trees in the backyard or whatever came to her 3 1/2 old mind.  Tonight, Campbell was telling Mrs Mona she was going to be all alone now that the class was over. Well, we think that is what she was saying!! I think she sometimes just makes up things to say to get that little but of extra attention from her teacher.