This is actually really a brag about my kid, but also about my husband and I, and our wonderful nanny, and our approach to parenting. My three-year old started the summer absolutely terrified of the pool. Absolutely terrified, wouldn't even consider going anywhere near anything but the kiddie pool. We've put him in daily lessons in two week periods. The first set of lessons, he wouldn't leave the stairs, and cried half the time, but he had sort of started to get there by the end of the set. The second set was at a different pool, with more professional instructors, but he was separated into a different class than his brother. Moving to a different pool, new instructors, and separating him from brother set him back to refusing to go near the water. The first three days he spent the whole time sitting by the side crying and saying, "I want to be with my brother! Can't nanny come swim with me?" I spoke to his teachers and said, no, nanny won't be swimming with him, but as long as he's not disrupting the class I don't mind paying to have him sit at the side and watch the kids the whole time, so be encouraging but don't push him, he will come around. I know my kid, the exposure is half the battle.Today, he swam from one (short) end of the pool to the other, only barely holding on to his instructor, and JUMPED IN!!! This would have been unheard of just six weeks ago.So, mostly, I'm so proud of how brave my son is to overcome his fear, but also proud of my husband and I to know him well enough to just let him come to it on his own terms. And my wonderful nanny for rightfully agreeing with us, and also adding that having goggles and a swim shirt would probably help. Did I spend quite a bit of money to have him sit at the side of the pool? Yup. But that doesn't matter, because ultimately that money has been worth it.It's one of those days that makes you say, damn, I really CAN handle this parenting thing.What's your parenting brag today?! via /r/Parenting http://ift.tt/29XGcGv
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