Swimming

Some people in our circle think I am hard on my kids, that my methods are tough and I have heard myself referred to as "The Nazi Mom".  I can accept this and probably agree with it.  I do tend to be harder on my kids because I know their limits and I know their capabilities.  If I have to be a little harder on them so they can over come their fear of something then that is what I need to do. 

One example of this started this week, and it had to do with Grandma's swimming pool.  I haven't had a chance to go in this year because I didn't have time but Kiya and Mylee have been swimming a couple of times.  The water is up to Kiya's chest and Mylee wears a life jacket to be safe and strangle holds her sister's neck to keep afloat. 

Well that is up until I got in the pool with them on Sunday.  I didn't think it necessary for Mylee to strangle her sister and showed her that with the life jacket she wouldn't sink or drown and that someone was in there with her all the time.  So I let her go.  I was within arms reach and through screaming and crying, and probably some horrible looks from neighbours, Mylee freaked out.  That is when I sat her on the ladder and told her that if she was going to freak out she had to get out of the pool because her freaking out will tell people she is in trouble.  She didn't want to get out.  So instead she gave it a shot.  I told her if she wanted me to pick her up she had to catch me.  Still within arms reach and still with the life jacket on I made her swim.  She was forced to kick her feet and with her arms do a breast stroke type movement and eventually she caught me.  I picked her up once and she wanted me to let go.  By the time I was ready to get out, Mylee had crossed the pool 6 or7 times solo and was playing tag with Gwen, who is also in a life jacket. 

Some people might consider some of the things I do heartless, but until my children understand that only through many attempts will they reach their potential, I have to continue pushing them and cheering them on.  I have never babied my kids, maybe that is why they understand where mommy is coming from, so I can't start now. 

So if you disagree with my methods, I can totally understand, but each day my kids learn something new and know to push themselves to the limit succeeding in their own way.  I am not one to push when it comes to grades, but when it comes to life lessons and things they need to carry with them their entire lives I am going to push until they understand for themselves why mommy does that.