Chance moves into the fast lane

Last week marked the beginning of swim team for Chance and his siblings.  This means a summer full of waking up early and being in the pool by 6:45.   Swimming laps and laps and laps and then a few more laps.

The kids are divided by ability groups, and if they need to move up to be pushed, sometimes they are put in an older age group.

Chance began the season in the slower lanes.  After the first two days of swimming, Chance's brother announced that the work out they were doing this year was intense.

Chance replied,"No it's not!"

Within the next few days, Chance's brother informed their swim coach that Chance was saying that their morning workouts were easy.  Apparently, the coach said, "WHAT?"

Chance has now been moved into the fast lanes and is swimming with boys from 15 to 18.  He seems to be holding his own.  All of those days of playing two hours of soccer helped with conditioning I am sure.

You've got to love older brothers:)

2009

2009

2007

2003 Chance DID NOT  want to be in lessons

2003 This teacher was so good and sweet with Chance.  Even when  he made it clear that he  did not want to there.

 When we started this swimming adventure, Chance was not amused.  For the first two years of his life, we did the mom and tot class together. That was all fine and good.  We both had a great time.
At age 3, right after being diagnosed as being severley to profoundly deaf, Chance went into class with out me.  Preschool classes did not allow mothers.
I figured that out of all of my children, the one that could not hear me around water was the one that needed swim lessons the most.
Chance fought me.  He cried.  He reached his little hands out to me with  a heartbreaking expression of  anguish.
It was hard for me.  I sat at the edge of the pool gesturing to him and smiling encouragement.
I talked to the teachers and the actual teachers in the pool were not phased by the fact that Chance was deaf.  They took it in stride and almost all  of them learned to love the little swimmer that could not hear them.  They gestured and they amplified their movements so Chance could follow.
Chance needed to learn to swim.  It was imperative to his safety and well being.

Now Chance is swimming with the big boys. How is that for coming full circle.