Only people who have spent a good portion of time with our family during the summer will know how important this particular blog is for me.
Before I had children I knew that swimming would not just be a recreational activity, but it would be a life skill that my kids would have. I had Cam in swimming lessons when he was 12 weeks old. Cuyler was a bit trickier to get into the water because I had Cam, who was still a toddler.
I enrolled Eva when she was 12 weeks, but had to pull her out when her hemangioma started it’s complications. I hated having to wait until her manny was completely healed – it was almost a year. Now she loves the water and will bob around in her lifejacket for hours shooting anyone in her sight with a water rocket.
The first time we tried to take the boys to a public swim Cuyler lost his mind in the changeroom. We figured it was the acoustics/echo in the room. We were able to take him through a different door. Got into the pool area and he lost his marbles again. We figured this time it may have been either the extremely high ceiling, the acoustics or the full window walls surrounding the area. Whatever it was – it was a sensory overload for him.
A few months later I tried putting him in parent-tot lessons and ended up walking out mid way through the first class with Cuyler in a full on fit, while I bawled. It broke my heart to see all the other toddlers happily jumping into their mothers arms while my kid screamed uncontrollably with his head buried into the pool deck.
From that point – we couldn’t get him in water. It drove me crazy that he wasn’t comfortable in the water.
Cut to last summer.
Cut to last summer.
I got pissed off and had had enough of it. I was sick and tired of his inability to swim. I was sick and tired of not being able to sit poolside and watch my kids. I was a nervous wreck anytime we were near a pool. I was sick and tired of his autism at that point and just said “Screwit. He’s going in.”
And I pulled him in. He didn’t like it. I didn’t care.
And after about 10 minutes of the family cheering for him, he was fine being in the pool, in my arms.
I was finally able to put him in swimming lessons last fall. Our Parks & Rec department have been amazing with us and allowed Cuyler to remain in the small playpool for his lessons with the 3-5 year olds (he’ll be 8 this year).
In February we were introduced to this guy:
And he has been the key to Cuyler’s swimming. The first day he started with Cuy he asked me all sorts of questions about how to communicate with him and was always open to new ideas, suggestions and strategies. We’ve been lucky enough to have him teach Cuyler since February. He will be with him for his summer lessons and Aquatics are allowing him 2 weeks off to be Cuyler’s support worker at camp.
Two weeks ago he got Cuyler into the big pool. Where the 6+ year olds go to swim.
FINALLY.
This was a huge milestone.
FINALLY.
This was a huge milestone.
Wednesday he got him into the deep end with a life jacket. Yesterday he got him to swim in the deep end with a life jacket.
Cuyler has more water confidence than I ever could have imagined him having this soon.
So much so that now we can’t get him out of the water. He spent about 4 hours in our friends pool yesterday.
He put the mask on and something clicked…he was going right under. Looking. And listening to himself hum. The sensory experience became a completely different experience.
He started jumping in from the deck yesterday afternoon. By last night he was going down the slide. His confidence is growing day by day…I am thrilled. And can’t think of a better way to beat this heat!
He started jumping in from the deck yesterday afternoon. By last night he was going down the slide. His confidence is growing day by day…I am thrilled. And can’t think of a better way to beat this heat!
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Not bad for a kid who wouldn’t put his face in a few months ago, huh?
^ ^ ^ I so agree!!! Man – watching Cuyler as he watches Cam… I love it. I SO wish for the same bond between Ryder & River!
I love how Cam mentors Cuy, and the adoration that Cuy has for his big bro is so evident! Amazing.
You can see how a public pool would be complete sensory overload…heck, I find it to be a sensory overload! But a nice, quiet backyard pool…that’s a different story. I remember the feeling of “losing myself” in the water (still love it) and I can see how that might be really calming for him.
Awesome!
As a parks and rec”y” mom I love love this post! What a wonderful story and so well scripted by you:)
note to self…stop reading your freaking blog at work….
I’m bawling – GO CUY! I’m so happy that you’re sharing these milestones – they’re so amazing. Scotty went to the dentist today and got his teeth cleaned…huge, massive step for him and he did it. So go our dudes today!!!
Awesome! I was a HUGE water baby myself and my kids are too. Nothing like the freedom of the water. So glad to see Cuyler loving it!