Boy Z has been swimming since he was about four months old. By swimming I don’t mean the 200m butterfly, of course, but various water baby classes both in Oxford and here in Adelaide. They allow the kids to get comfortable in the water and teach basic safety, something that we felt was important for kids growing up in Australia. For most of that time, he has loved it and I have as well. The structure of the classes gives me an opportunity to spend quality time with the boy without having to come up with creative ways of keeping him entertained and out of trouble.

For the first six months that he was in swimming classes in Australia, he was a model student – a water baby star. When the instructor wanted someone to demonstrate something she turned to Boy Z and I. Sometimes it was difficult to perform various manouvers – what with my chest all swollen with pride – but we did our best. He moved up the baby swimming ladder at like a spider monkey after a low hanging banana and I was convinced that he would be ready for the Olympics come 2016. Phrases like ‘youngest gold medal swimmer in Australian history’ rang gaily in my head.

Ah, those were the days. The heady days of December.

But lately he’s not doing so well. For the last few months, every single class is a struggle. He just will not do any of the exercises without screaming, yelling and fighting. He insists on having his hands full of toys, making any actual swimming impossible. All the other toddlers are happily going about their business – doing ‘dips’ under water, clambering out of the pool, leaping off the side into the waiting arms of their proud parents. My kid – sits scowling on the steps with 19 balls in his hands and screeches every time I try to get him to do anything.

God I hate swimming.

The people at the swim center have been helpful, offering the advice to let the kid just do what makes him happy. The most important thing is that he’s happy in the pool. If need be, let him play on his own for the whole class and he’ll come out of this phase. Just relax and enjoy the time together.

But that drives me insane. I know he can do it. He has done it. Why won’t he do it now. DO IT BOY Z! Dammit!

Now, I don’t want to be one of those Dads. You know, the ones that are banned from all manner of little league sidelines and dugouts. I don’t want to be  a high pressure father. But this is a most embarrassing predicament. Back in the halcyon days when Boy Z was the model student, we used to snicker and smirk at other students who struggled in the way that we are now. Karma is a bitch.

I don’t even want to go anymore, but I paid for the term.But more than that, I don’t want to be a quitter.

Quitting is something I’ve excelled at in my life. Piano lessons, swim team, youth soccer, university, jobs, relationships – you name it, I’ve quit it. I’m not proud of this and one of my goals as a father is not to pass on this particular trait. I want to make sure that Boy Z and his sibling know that it is OK to fail at something as long as you keep trying. Preferable, in fact. I want to hammer home that cliche about the going getting tough and the tough getting going.

If I quit swimming lessons, I’m afraid that I’ve given the boy a gentle push down a slippery slope.

I know he’s only 20 months old and chances are if we quit now, he won’t remember ever having taken swimming lessons. I know this sounds mad. But I’ve never claimed to be entirely sane.

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Great Lake Swimmers, the vehicle for Canadian singer-songwriter Tony Dekker, has a new full-length LP out. ‘Lost Channels’ is a very strong album from an artist who keeps getting better. The new one has tones of early R.E.M. and marks a musical progression from his last record. Dekker features highly on my list of ‘good guys’ – he’s recorded some wonderful music for kids and even sat down for an interview with me. If you like “Pulling on a Line”, buy “Lost Channels” from Great Lake Swimmers - Lost Channels.

 
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