Swimming in circles
It's just over two years now since the little fella first arrived on the scene. MOTS was knocked up just before Christmas 2005, and with a possibility of impending arrival becoming more of a question mark while we had visitors, the test was delayed until after the New Year of 2006 once we were alone again. In that two years there has been a remarkable development, which takes him full circle to exactly where he was then. But now, not then. Oh read on and see what I'm babbling on about.
From this little swimmer...
...to this little swimmer!What has gone full circle I hear you ask? The ability to swim. Way back in December 2005, well I am not explaining the birds and the bees, suffice to say that neither swim particularly very well. Unless the former are ducks, especially when you've got a good loaf en-route to the duck pond. Or swans, they can really steam behind you when you're chugging along the canal at 3 knots on a narrowboat, wondering if it really will get JJ's left ankle (it did).
Ah, the point. Well, he's been going to the swimming pool most Sundays for a while now, and just before Christmas I let him loose with his armbands. MOTS didn't join us, staying in the cafe nursing a poorly head (not alcohol induced, genuinely ill). So with her out of the way we pushed some boundaries. We had a learning experience, let's call it. With armbands on, I let him go off on his own. And he floated. Until he brought his arms together then he sank. Arms out to the side - float. Together - sink. See, it's easy.
Nirvana's album cover doesn't really do him justice, he's been doing the underwater thing for months. But this Sunday just gone (epiphany, if that's of any relevance) we had a major breakthrough. Those boundaries were being tested again, to the same extent. No sinking. Progress. OK, now what? Well, it had to involve an older girl, didn't it? Either that or her ball. With arms straight out to the side for buoyancy, the legs started kicking. Nothing new there, the floating, the kicking. But put a sequence of events together and what do we get? No, not "Final Destination", we get the little guy managing to swim almost the full width of the pool.
In relative terms it's a lot less of a journey than he made a little over two years ago, but I'm ever more proud that he took this lesser journey just recently. Especially as I could do the proud dad bit, watching others watching him go.
Eat your heart out, Duncan Goodwho?.
