Isaac and the Goggles
Kids are surprisingly tough. This past weekend I learned just how tough.
Two summers ago, Isaac was not a great swimmer and didn't like going to the pool at summer camp. He would come home, face as red as a beet, having spent time in the garden instead of the pool. Then last year, we got him a scuba-mask style set of goggles because he was concerned about water going up his nose. It worked and last summer he turned into a a decent swimmer.
Fast forward a year and now, equipped with his beloved scuba mask, he was a virtual sea otter. He talks about the pool and all of his adventures all of the time. But unfortunately we didn't have an opportunity to see this (having buried our backyard pool in dirt about six years ago). So last weekend we decided to go to a local swimming pool and see Isaac in all his glory. For a few minutes he danced and dove around the pool and was so proud of how good he was. Bianca, Ethan, and I were delighted.
But then a lifeguard spoke up. His scuba mask goggles were not allowed. I am lawyer so I sought an appeal and my argument in favor of the scuba mask goggles was denied on appeal. Sadly I told Isaac that he had to take off his goggles. He couldn't he told us. He'd drowned. He needed them to swim. Without them it was over. Sadly, with his spirit broken, he got out of the pool and sat in the grass, crying a little bit every once in a while. As his Dad, it was heart rending to see Isaac go from joyous to crushed. Finally, I couldn't take it. I told him we could go get some new goggles. Wet and cold, he and I hopped into the car and drove to Dicks where we bought new goggles and a nose clamp.
Returning to the pool, he felt triumphant again. He hopped in and the noise clip fell off. Isaac didn't know what to do. But he knew that I had really made an effort, so he told me that he would try going in without the nose clamp. Bianca and I held our breath as Isaac did. He bobbed under the water, swam around, and then popped out. He was fine he told us. He didn't need the nose clamp and the new goggles were great. For the next hour or so, our little sea otter returned. It was a great day and Bianca and I were so happy with how resilient he was. Kids are amazing and tough.
Fast forward a year and now, equipped with his beloved scuba mask, he was a virtual sea otter. He talks about the pool and all of his adventures all of the time. But unfortunately we didn't have an opportunity to see this (having buried our backyard pool in dirt about six years ago). So last weekend we decided to go to a local swimming pool and see Isaac in all his glory. For a few minutes he danced and dove around the pool and was so proud of how good he was. Bianca, Ethan, and I were delighted.
But then a lifeguard spoke up. His scuba mask goggles were not allowed. I am lawyer so I sought an appeal and my argument in favor of the scuba mask goggles was denied on appeal. Sadly I told Isaac that he had to take off his goggles. He couldn't he told us. He'd drowned. He needed them to swim. Without them it was over. Sadly, with his spirit broken, he got out of the pool and sat in the grass, crying a little bit every once in a while. As his Dad, it was heart rending to see Isaac go from joyous to crushed. Finally, I couldn't take it. I told him we could go get some new goggles. Wet and cold, he and I hopped into the car and drove to Dicks where we bought new goggles and a nose clamp.
Returning to the pool, he felt triumphant again. He hopped in and the noise clip fell off. Isaac didn't know what to do. But he knew that I had really made an effort, so he told me that he would try going in without the nose clamp. Bianca and I held our breath as Isaac did. He bobbed under the water, swam around, and then popped out. He was fine he told us. He didn't need the nose clamp and the new goggles were great. For the next hour or so, our little sea otter returned. It was a great day and Bianca and I were so happy with how resilient he was. Kids are amazing and tough.