Swimming Boot Camp

"I survived Miss Rita's swim lessons" read the t-shirt of the guy inside the fence as we entered the backyard pool area at exactly 11:15 for the first day of the most brutal swim lessons I have found.
The previous session left one kid vomiting and another trying to scale the fence.
With no introductions at all, we were firmly directed to leave the kids and go inside and out of sight.
My breath fogged up the window as I watched my 2 & 4 year old unsuspectingly sit at the pools edge. Then one by one the wrenching blood curdling screams began! Lilly bounced her shoulders, the way she does when she is happy & excited, and they grabbed her. She smiled wide in glee at the smooth succulent sensation of the azure waters. Then down she went and with it all sense of fun and security. What was happening? What is this? Where's my mommy!!!
I was inside wiping away my own tears, second guessing the brutality of it all.
The torture ended 45 minutes later with cries and laments that lasted all the way home.Day two, I surprisingly managed to get them into their suits somehow. Drove the 25 minutes back to her house. Upon sight of the front yard I heard synchronized protests and pleas followed by literal kicking and screaming into the pool gates (of hell). Parents were forcefully ordered once again to quickly move along into the house and leave their innocent children behind (insert evil laugh here).Within the next 45 minutes I witnessed the most amazing phenomenon of the human experience. The most striking moment of parental awe. I actually saw the moment my eldest son transformed a paralysing fear into an awareness that he actually accomplished what he thought he couldn't. Then into pride and excitment. Then into joy and elation! My own delight and relief could not be measured.Lilly on the other hand still needed time.
We left with one in a softened state of tears and the other in skippy merriment.

Day three and four, Dakota was anxiously anticipating the chance to "show me how brave he can be". Lilly still protested. She is apparently a GREAT floater. She tearfully submits to having her head down in the water, legs stretched out, and the constant coaxing. But she refuses to kick. Really, she just hasn't made to proper connection from brain to legs yet. Today ended with promises of a new Tinker Bell in exchange for a few kicks which she eagerly agreed to but couldn't quite achieve. Tomorrow is the last day of the first week. Saturday is the work pool party where Dakota is so excited to show off to daddy his new diving board jumping & solo swimming skillz. Hopfully Lilly will just have some unpressured fun in between her sessions. But so far, so good.