Teaching the Teacher

Confession: One of my kids in swim lessons almost drowned yesterday.

Second Confession: This isn't the first time this has happened.

....Now at this point I'm sure you're wondering "why the hell is she still allowed to teach swim lessons?!"

To be fair, I'm not entirely sure. But I think it has to do with that key word almost and the fact that none of them have actually drowned.

But it has made me think. Yes, I am the teacher. But that doesn't mean that the kiddos haven't taught me anything. This summer I have taught approximately 400 swim lessons, to approximately 100 kids, and let me tell you, I think I have learned way more than they have (and before you crack jokes about the fact that no duh, if they're drowning then you haven't taught them to swim, I have had many children successfully learn how to swim partially due to my efforts.)

So what have I learned?

1. Kids do not have the same awareness as adults.
      Now before you look at me like I'm an idiot, hear me out. I can be spacey, and not connect dots. But I usually know if my clothing has fallen off. You have no idea how often I have had a little swimmer come over to me missing half or all of their swim suit, to which I then have to search around and figure out where it is and help them put it back on. All while they have no idea it was even missing.

2. Using superheros to teach is always more successful than being boring

3. There are some great parents, and some parents who could use some advice.
      There are some awesome parents out there. Super encouraging, very aware, and always looking for ways to build their kids up. They are the ones who ask you for advice, and follow through on it. The ones who help their kids feel empowered even when the lesson might not have gone as well as you hoped. They are the parents that are raising a generation that will overcome problems and lead the world.
       And then there are parents that could not care less. Parents who don't ask for your advice, and when you tell them important things, they shrug you off. Parents who yell at their children every class (I understand yelling at kiddos every once in awhile, but every class?). Parents who are teaching their child to be frustrated and impatient rather than understanding and kind.

4. Vaseline saves skin when you're in the pool for hours on end. So as weird as it may be, lube up. (I will never get used to that and it will never sound right.)

5. You never know what is going to come out of a kids mouth.
       Even when you know the kid, and you know what they usually say, they can still sometimes shock you.

6. Teaching 4 year olds how to swim is a complete workout. You may as well be wrestling a greased pig.

7. Sometimes you take on a job that you are completely unqualified for, and rise to the challenge.
      I ended up teaching lessons because I needed a job, and knew a lifeguard at the pool. I had taught preschool in the past, so I worked with kids before, but I had never seriously swam before. I was never on a swim team, and honestly hadn't really learned technique since I was in lessons myself. However, my boss saw potential, had me shadow a few lessons with her best instructors, and stuck me by myself with 5 6 year-olds in the pool and said "have fun!"And I did! It was scary, but there is nothing more rewarding than seeing a kiddo learn to do something that they thought was really hard. To see my level 3 kids go from scared of the deep head to diving is one of the highlights of my summer.

So, post swimming lesson advice from a barely qualified 19 year old? First off, never turn your back on kids. ever. And second, don't be afraid to try hard things. You never know how much you might learn about yourself.

-M