Jump with Joy

Baby Bear has been working toward the goal of jumping off the diving board all summer. I had my doubts on whether we would be able to achieve this goal. After all, to achieve this goal, she would have to swim quite a distance (the distance from the diving board to the side of the pool). At the beginning of summer, she could not swim more than a few feet.

Through the summer, we worked on floating (front and back) and swimming with "big arms." She progressed well and expanded the distance she could swim. However, she could only go as far as one breath would take her. She had a hard time understanding the concept of lifting or turning her head to breathe. We finally achieved that hurdle in August. Then it was a matter of refining this and then ensuring that I was comfortable enough with her capabilties that she could swim the required distance without me being right next to her.

We finally decided that Monday of Labor Day weekend was THE DAY. It rained all day! Since the pools are on "winter" schedule, the next available day was Saturday. We arrived at the pool the minute it opened with video camera, digital camera and an excited Momma, Daddy and Baby Bear. And......success: