Little Fish

Sissy started swim lessons yesterday, but the class was too simple for her.  It was a “getting over your fear of the water” type of class, and she is already well beyond that.  Her Daddy petitioned to get her moved up a level, so today she started her new big girl class.  Well, imagine her surprise when she discovered this class was mostly very large and very brave boys.   

My instinct (and her Daddy’s) was to pull her out of the hard class and put her back where I was sure she would succeed, especially when she cried.  We decided though to get through one lesson and then see where we stood.  It took quite a bit of persuasion from Daddy and a phone call from Mama to get her through, but she did it!  She put her whole head under the water and picked up a ring off the bottom, she jumped in to her teacher, and she even walked out on the diving board to check things out.  She came home with a whole new level of confidence!  She still has some battles to fight, like mastering the diving board, but she has a wonderful and gentle teacher, and supportive parents to guide her through.

The experience of going from big fish in a little pond to little fish in a big pond is one she will encounter again and again in her life.  I am glad for this chance to teach her to face her fears, to accept not always being the best, and to try her little heart out with the knowledge that her Father and I will always love and support her.