Blog : Little Lilypad Co

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The Little Lilypad is a lifestyle blog mostly written by a mum to two beautiful, cheeky and entertaining daughters. It is sometimes written by the Man on the Pad or by one of our baby bloggers. Occasionally we accept guest posts too. There is frequently talk of sustainable living, saving money, lifestyle and travel. It is hopefully helpful, sometimes funny and always honest.
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Category: Swimming

  1. Am I a pushy parent?

    Posted on

    Today I joked about my little water baby being a future Olympian. It was a joke obviously but am I saying that it didnt cross my mind for a single second that, one day, my water loving baby might go on to swim for her club, her county, her country? I can't say that.

    As a parent, I think we all have desires and aspirations for our children, whether it be a doctor, lawyer, following in our footsteps or following their own dreams, so how do you strike the balance between being a supportive parent to being a pushy one?

    I remember dancing three times a week until I was 16, I was the first in my class to do pointe ballet and I always had a dream to dance on the Royal Variety Performance. At 16, I went to college, got a job and a life that didnt fit in with my dancing disciplines, so I gave it up and with it, I gave up my dream. Looking back, do I wish that my parents had pushed me? Absolutely. Would I have listened? Probably not.

    My daughters however are not 16 and are not old enough to make those choices, so I will continue to make them for them. My eldest has already given up dancing at the ripe old age of 7 but I refuse to let her give up swimming. This isnt to say that I do genuinely think she will be a future Olympian because she can be anything she wants to be, although if the moaning about weekly swimming lessons are anything to go by, I suspect this *may not* be the case.

    The little one has started a new course with Water Babies this week and they have been encouraged to lie on their back and kick their legs, which after a little encouragement was met with many chuckles. She is super comfortable in the water and whilst the kicking and splashing isnt quite Olympic quality just yet, maybe it will be one day and maybe, just maybe I am that pushy parent after all.

  2. Injecting some enthusiasm into our swimming

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    The little fish was returning to the water this week, after half term, so Nanny was excited that she was finally going to get to use her goggles and see the little one swim under water. Unfortunately the little fish has had her MMR injections and has not been amused ever since. As most parents know, the MMR is three separate vaccines, and each one can exhibit different side effects which can then occur at different times. We are always reassured that side effects are mild and from a parents perspective, I am always mindful that the side effects are milder than the potential complications of measles, mumps and rubella. The side effect in our house however has been general grouchiness!!

    So did we go swimming ....? Of course we did!

    We checked with Water Babies and they say that as long as the doctor is fine with it, so are they. They tell us that they "have had many babies who’ve done doctors in the morning, swimming in the afternoon, with no problems whatsoever. In fact it could even be a bonus, with the warm water acting as a tonic should their arm or leg be feeling a little stiff by then".

    Unfortunately the only worry that Nanny had with regards to arms or legs was them being wrapped around her so tightly that there was more clinging than swimming this week. As usual the Water Babies instructor was fabulous but in the end agreed that the little fish was too fractious to swim underwater during this session (much to Nanny's dismay).

    So with all the crying and drama, due to injections rather than swimming this week, I think Nanny needed ear plugs rather than goggles!! Maybe next week Mum!!

  3. Humpty Dumpty fell in the water : The Alternative Ending

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    Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall

    Humpty Dumpty had a great fall

    All the Kings horses and all the Kings men

    Couldnt put Humpty together again.

     

    Thats how is goes isnt it? Well apparently not if you go to a Water Babies class!

    Mum, aka Nanny came back from the Water Babies class today still singing the nursery rhyme and I had to ask how Humpty Dumpty managed to fit into a baby's swimming lesson. Apparently the little ones are sat on the side and when Humpty "falls" into the water they go! (well you learn something every day).

    Nanny is really embracing the lessons now and the little one loves them (especially since getting her wet suit), she still dithers as she is sat on the side and is absolutely happiest when in the water. Reassuringly, all of the Water Babies pools are heated to 30° or above, so I cant say I blame her for wanting to be in the water rather than out of it!

    I love that she has no fear of being "dunked" underneath and happily did a "free" swim today. I dont love so much that I am not the one to share this with her (but thats just me being selfish) and Nanny is already asking if we are going to do the next course. She looks forward to the weekly classes and I am not sure if it is Nanny or the little one who is enjoying the classes more.

    Nanny now needs swim goggles to watch the little one under water and my eldest daughter is helping her get used to people wearing goggles by using hers EVERY bathtime. She looks a little bit like a pink fly but the little one thinks its hilarious, although not so sure Nanny would if I got her a bright pink pair!

     

  4. Approaching the water again ...

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    You may recall that my Mom took my little one to her first Water Babies class a few weeks ago. Unfortunately for us (but not for Mum), my Dad then decided to book a last minute holiday for them and off they jetted to Egypt for two weeks! Bless her, she was genuinely upset that she was going to miss the classes for a few weeks but we have had great fun in the bath each evening getting her (again, the little one not Nanny, because that would be weird) happy covering her face with water.

    Water Babies teach unique methods that enable the little ones to feel at ease swimming both above and below the water and (hopefully) love the sensation of floating in such a warm, calm atmosphere. I have to be honest, our bath time preparations have not been quite as calming, I would probably go as far as raucous with significant splashing, lots of laughing and a very very wet bathroom (and mommy).

    Nanny was exhausted after the last lesson but I think that was more to do with her being anxious before the class, when she realised how friendly and relaxing the whole experience would be, she couldn’t wait for the next class.

    With my eldest daughter making great strokes (see what I did there) into her swimming now, I can’t wait for the little one to be joining her without water wings too. It still amazes me that for someone who loves water so much that my eldest hasn’t had the confidence for swimming lessons until she reached 7 years old. Water Babies is helping to make sure that history doesn’t repeat itself and with them teaching more than 28,000 (!!) children each week, I am confident in having two competent, contented little Water Babies.

    I had a lovely tweet from Water Babies today asking Nanny and the little one would be back tomorrow, so as they approach the water, I am sure they can look forward to a warm welcome back to the classes …. just maybe not as warm as Egypt!