June 28, 2010

Splash Park Brings Much Needed Smiles

Henry continues with his reluctance to attend swim lessons.  I am determined to make it through this eight class session but probably won't sign him up for more this summer.  Last week I promised that if he went to his lesson we would go to the splash park afterwards.  Our community pool has a very large water play area that is fenced separately from the swimming area.   Since his lessons are in the late afternoon, we waited fifteen minutes until the pool re-opened to the public and then paid our admission to enter.  Daily pool fees really add up but I'm not sure we'd use a season pass enough to make it worth the expense.  With my luck, I'd by the early bird discount pass in May and one of the boys would break their arm in June.  Right now, Liam is free but Henry and I must pay $5 each for each visit.  The pool hours are limited (closed until 1 pm everyday and only open until 6 pm on weekends!)  Still it is a very nice, clean facility.  The smaller size is actually an advantage right now--less overwhelming and easier to keep the boys safe on a summer afternoon.

    "Let me show you how it's done"

Liam had been feeling under the weather earlier in the day.  So had I, but it had nothing to do with a summer cold/teething combo.  My mind was still on the tragedy that has befallen family members who live in another state.  It is not my place to say more, only to say that the grief I feel for these relatives is ever-present.
As we played, Liam perked up a bit but still clung to me around some of the more exciting water features.  I was glad that I could keep my promise to Henry.  It was not a bribe.  I won't go down that road.  But it was an "if you, then we will" agreement.  It's important that Henry understand how these things work and that he can trust me to keep my end of the bargain.  Now I just wonder if he will expect splash park fun after each lesson.  I certainly can't afford that!  Oh, boy, I see a sit-down, discussion coming our way...
Liam modeling the ever-fashionable, required swim diaper

9 comments:

  1. If it makes you feel any better my son HATES his swim lessons too. He's 4 1/2 and I keep telling him he doesn't have to LOVE swimming but he MUST be water safe. Once he has achieved that I will stop forcing him into lessons. But he still cries. And I still feel like a mean Mommy. But seriously. Water safe is a MUST. Here's hoping they both decide water is cool in the very near future.

    ReplyDelete
  2. We did a swim class when J was really little, but it was just singing and chasing little ducks in the pool. Since then we haven't done swimming lessons...but we did sign up for a sports class this summer that kills me. It's hard for us to watch (mostly because Chad's a PE teacher) because we're both teachers. I'm surprised Jordan hasn't complained that it's boring and he doesn't want to go. He's pretty good about that. I think he likes it more than we feel like he should.

    We have a great spray park but Jordan doesn't like the water part that much, he would rather play in their big sand area. We don't last much more than 2 hours at the pool or the spray park so the hours don't bother us much. For as much as we go, it's so worth having the pass for us - but you have to find something that you're kids are really going to take advantage of. :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. The splash park sounds wonderful! Hey, call it what you will, it got Henry to stick to the plan, and you all benefited from some fun time afterward. No crime in that! :) For the record, we don't have pool passes, either. With naps, errands, and all the stuff we have to pack into the weekends, it wouldn't pay for us, either. I'm sorry to hear that your family is in pain, and I hope that some fun in the sun helped let some sunshine in to ease some of that.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I'm sorry to hear you're greiving for a family tragedy.

    I agree with JAMR72, whatever you call it, Henry went to his lessons & you built important trust with him.

    ReplyDelete
  5. LOVE the new blog look. And LOVE the new header. Who did it?? I'd love to make a pretty one too.

    ReplyDelete
  6. And I adore the swim where for Liam. But I used to swim competitively, so the speedo look is something I like. :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. I too LOVE this new look. I'm rather envious - mine looks so boring in comparison, like cmay asked - who helped you with it?

    I tried to explain to Alex just the other day about expecting something off me but not wanting to do something that I was asking of him. His answer was 'that sounds like a bribe to me'. I had to then tell his 17 year old self to go look up bribe in the dictionary!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I'm regretting the pool pass, only because we've gone only once! (The lessons were obviously extra on top of that!) It just gets so darn busy and some days are just too hot and some too cool...maybe when he's older I'll do a pass again. By the way, I absolutely love your new header design, it's really cute. I especially love that "H" is holding a train!

    ReplyDelete
  9. The new blog looks great. It is too bad that zoos and similar attractions must impose substantial fees to remain open. As to the issue of passes, they illustrate the debate term: cost-benefit analysis.

    ReplyDelete