Three long years of swimming lessons.
By December 2010 he was still clinging to the steps, floaties on, bubble on; fearful, reluctant, stubborn, his hair dry. By January 2011 he is leaping unaided into the deep end to fetch rings at the bottom of the pool. Amazing stuff.
One thing changed: he was visited by our dear friend Confidence.
I think I can do it.
I know I can do it.
I’m going to do it.
This time I’m really going to do it.
Look, Mum! I’m doing it! I’m really doing it!
So, this week, I’m grateful for…
1. Confidence – thank you for showing my boy that he can conquer his fears and learn new loves.
2. My children’s school – our second year in a row that you have taken a anxious Kinder child gently by the hand and embraced them with the joy of school life. You are a wonderful bunch of teachers, staff and families and we are lucky to have you.
3. Zooper Doopers – without you I would have exploded in the heat.
So, what’s making you smile today? Grab my I’m grateful for… button from my sidebar if you like, add your I’m Grateful For post below and please add a link back to me in your post. Then pop over to visit other bloggers who are spreading a little sunshine. Happy day to you!
Sarah says
Ok, you will probably need to get this out of the way early, but what is a zooper-dooper? And I love the change in attitude with confidence. In a week where I have struggled with this I think I am going to make some of those words my mantra.
Pieni Lintu says
I’ll have to ask the same thing.. What’s zooper-dooper? 🙂
Nice picture and lovely things in your list of grateful!! <3
bigwords is... says
a zooper dooper is a ice block in long tube – yummy!!
confidence – what a wonderful trait to develop. magical xx
Pieni Lintu says
Thanks for the information. 😉
Ms Styling You says
Lovely post again … I’m joining in tomorrow xx
BabyMac says
Oh! So proud. I can’t wait for that moment with my gal. We are getting there slowly, slowly.
Who knew that zooper doopers were also a saviour when inserted into a maternity pad post labour. Yep. You heard it here first.
Congrats on a HUGE week Bron x
Cat from Raspberry Rainbow says
Yay for confidence visiting!
Go Maxi-taxi, go!
_vTg_ says
Our Big Bro also had a swimming epiphany this summer, realizing he could put his head underwater. For him the incentive was the promise of a class upgrade, otherwise he’d be in the same class as Little Bro! Hopefully Big Bro doesn’t need sibling competition to compel him to make other achievements!
Isn’t it great to see children achieve? Fuel for the Chinese Mother in all of us, I spose!
Posie Patchwork says
It’s a breakthrough that’s for sure!!! Such pride & poolside calm, you can pick up a magazine now.
I have always been grateful that my children skipped the swimming lessons as they were born in Darwin & if you can’t swim by aged 2, you’ll never be invited to anyone’s house or party. Luckily my fish didn’t resist & just leapt in & with tropical weather, i got in the deep end (literally, they could swim before they could read the signs!!) Swimming solo was easy & yippee, free!! We suffer shorter swimming seasons here in Canberra, but they make up for it in Summer, swimming endlessly every day.
They are not strong/ fast/ competitive swimmers, they’re just not big enough, too petit, but they do training laps & enter every possible race at swimming carnivals for house points. Maybe when they get taller they might not be last in most races?? No Tiger mother poolside here. Love Posie
Mummy@Bod for tea says
Confidence rocks! Hi there *waves*, popped over from the UK to add my reasons to be grateful this week too 🙂
fairchildstreet says
Confidence is a wonderful thing. Up late can’t sleep huge storm here in Melbourne. I would love a zooper dooper now with this humidity. Charmaine
Taryn says
Confidence! I wish that would come and visit my children when they are swimming! My little people won’t put their heads in the water after a run in with a very pushy swimming instructor. Now they are point blank refusing to go to swimming lessons. Maybe next year confidence will make an appearance. One thing I have learnt from my children is everything comes in good time and I am sure it willx
Life In A Pink Fibro says
Yay Maxi – and I LOVE zooper doopers too. x
kasiabear says
no way!! i didn’t realise zooper doopers were still around..
me.. i’m going hunting!!
xx
Michelle Twin Mum says
G’day, now that makes me smile! Have never thoguht of myself as a foreginer, how funny is that?
My boy is at that stage with the swimming at the moment. We are trying to install the power of positive thinking into him right now. Well done to your lad.
No idea what a Zooper Dooper is!
Thanks for the link to Reasons to be Cheerful.
Mich x
•´.¸¸.•¨¯`♥.Trish.♥´¯¨•.¸¸.´• says
Who doesn’t love Zooper doopers – on special this week at Coles 24 = $2.44 😉
So glad your boy found his confidence.
myshoeboxlife.com says
Yay! I remember as a child being scared of the water for a long time, and the day I found that confidence was magical. xx
Felicity says
I cannot think of three better things to be thankful for this week. No 1 heading into a composite class this year a confident and brave boy after 2 anxiety riddled years, No 2 heading off to kinder full of excitement and wonder and into the arms of the most amazing teacher ever, and could I love Zooper Doopers any more at the momement – no. Even the Cola ones.
Jodie at Mummy Mayhem says
I had the same issues with my 8yo that Taryn explained above – one pushy instructor put him back a whole year.
The boys are fairly confident in the water, but I’m now waiting for the 4yo to really get in to it!
Thanks, hon. xxx
Joni Llanora says
I’d always welcome Confidence too. Not just as a visitor but as a permanent guest 🙂 That’s wonderful about your boy stepping up. It is really a proud moment. Anya misses her lessons but hopefully soon she can go back into the water.
Mummahh says
Im so with you on the Zooper Dooper’s my freezer is alway full of them! good to see your boy can swim, im in the process of teaching my mr 3 to swim, it great to see them glow with confidence.
have a great week
Ali
x
Trish@Show and Tell says
Oh, yes, confidence. What a wonderful thing. We have been through 4 long years of swimming lessons. I sometimes wonder whether we are ever going to get there. Still, I shall remain positive. Maybe we’ll be lucky enough to have confidence visit us soon too.
Trish
xx
Kelly says
I am grateful for all those things too specially Zooper Dooper’s in the summer ♥
Mrs Woog says
Ahhhh. Ye olde Zooper Dooper. Timeless icy treat. Bring me one now xo
Naomi @ Under the Yardarm says
Gotta love confidence! As for my freezer, it’s full of frozen grapes! Oh and weis bars!
Lucy says
I have had to pop in before I write up my gratefuls. Can you believe mine would be VERY similar in terms of school and icey poles?
So so glad the Connie Confidence has paid her visit. She rocks.
♥ your work Bron. xxx
Kymmie says
Oh, don’t you just love the day when they realise they can swim. And they actually like it? I sighed with relief on that day. And swimming lessons were so much more fun from then on. And glad someone shared what Zooper Doopers were! (And glad someone else asked the question…) It’s been a big week, hasn’t it? xx
sim at Kookaburra Laugh says
I read your post, then went to the beach. Whilst at the beach I marvelled at the confidence my boys have in the surf now after only a year on these shores. We then came home, opened the freezer and all dived for our favourite zooper dooper. There are never enough purple ones!
Cate says
Ah, you mean icy poles…
Swimming is such a wonderful gift you can give them – safety, confidence, fun, fitness…the list of it’s good points is endless (oh btw I’m a swimming techer too just in case you couldn’t guess). But seriously, well done mum for persevering when it got tough 🙂
xxxCate
Naturally Carol says
He has a great family that also taught him persistence…that is a great stepping stone to confidence..good for you!
Lucy says
I just entered my grateful post – and realised just how very huge your linky has become! Nearly 60! xx
Claire Chadwick @ Scissors Paper Rock says
Ooooh what a clever, little swimmer-boy you have there 🙂
Confidence…..an awesome thing to be grateful for, because we all know confidence is something that doesn’t come easily to everyone 🙂
Happy weekend B.
xo
Kate says
What on earth are zooper doopers??
And hooray for confidence and perseverance and the ability to swim. All three such important things in life.
monkeemoomoo says
Yay! for confidence. My son lost his in the pool and it took a whole year to return. It changes your world when it returns.
Now all he needs is a little skill! (my son, not yours)
Happy weekend to you:)
Steph says
COnfidence is so brilliant to watch blossoming isn’t it?! You know you’ve done a fabbo job then my dear!!! ANd zoooper doopers are the best! Wishing you a gorgeous weekend 🙂 x x
Tat says
I don’t know what a zooper-dooper is, but whatever it might be I want one! Or a dozen of them…
Katie says
Oh well done to him! We tried swimming lessons for one term, and it was a horrendous experience! Now 18 months later and we’re only just contemplating giving it another go … this post gives me hope 🙂
mel @ loved says
my big boy could do with a dose of that!
Brenda @ Mira Narnie says
you know maxi taxi seems to be a lot like my son – full of life, but sometimes lacking that little bit of confidence….so i can really really relate to how elated you must be about him making this HUGE leap!!! This is great – proud mum moment!!!
Glad i’m not the only one who doesn’t know what a zooper dooper is but sounds good xx
denise says
Such a beautiful post. I share the elation with you. My eldest little girl (4) has recently taken off in the pool and my youngest (2) is trying hard to out-do her!!
Just read your profile ,too, and I laughed at the house organisation part – that is me all over! So much fun!
LJ says
You give me hope for my eldest who has just started swimming lessons.
As always, love your blog. xx
Frog, Goose and Bear says
I am feeling a little sorry for all of these Australians who do not know what a zooper dooper is and have therefore missed out…. I thought every school tuck shop across the country had them at one time or another, in fact they still have them at my daughters school!
Well done Maxi Taxi!
Privet and Holly says
Hi new friend : )
You can g’day me
all you like….I
love it! Meant to
comment when I linked
up, earlier, but was
interrupted and then
the day got away from
me. Love your blog
and this weekly link.
Hope you are enjoying
a warm, wonderful weekend.
G’day {ooh, that’s nice}!
xx Suzanne
The Quilting Pirate says
Confidence – perfect! Courage and strength all wrapped into one! I think it’s easier to see confidence in our kids than ourselves – you obviously have a lot of confidence to allow a small piece of yourself to be share with your readers! You rock! 🙂
Have a nice week!
Carly @ Carly Webber - My Life in Colour says
Wonderful that your son is now confident in the water – a huge skill to have. And I used to love Zooper Doopers as a kid, but I haven’t seen them around lately… I must not be looking hard enough. Thank you again, despite my lack of comments I always read your blog and enjoy everything you write.
Have a great week x