Amazing Progress

Background: Clarissa is 5yo now, but last year when she was 4yo, she failed miserably in swim lessons. For some reason, she developed an intense FEAR of the water, and we have no idea why. She doesn't know why either -- she just cried any time she had to sit in water -- including the tub. (Thank goodness for showers). She would try to hit, kick and even bite her swim instructor. :o We pulled her out of the pool one day and never took her back. In some ways it felt like we were rewarding her and giving her what she wanted, but we couldn't put her teacher or the other kids at risk. And she was being MEAN. :o

We talked with the director of swimming, and she very politely told us that Clarissa could no longer take group lessons. She scared the other kids and of course, the instructor didn't like her either. :p

Fast forward to this winter. We used all the money DH's mom gave us for Christmas to put her in private swim lessons at the same place. We told this instructor that she has a huge fear of the water, so all we expected from the class was for her to feel comfortable enough to get IN the water without screaming and thrashing around. Imagine our surprise when Clarissa was doing THIS:










And these were taken last month when my parents came up for a visit. They took the kids to the hotel, and Clarissa was brave enough to jump to her brother!!!!!!!!!!