Help!

Last updated on: January 31, 2012 at 6:50 pm by Mary Alice

Help! 2012-01-31T18:50:41-06:00 Mary Alice

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Okay, I have hit a parenting wall and I am hoping that some of you will be able to advise me.

My older four children take a swimming lesson every Tuesday afternoon. In the past, my younger ones have sort of hung out poolside, been a little bit of a discipline problem while waiting or played with other kids who were waiting. Right now, though, I would also like them to learn to swim.

I didn’t want to come to the pool on a different day for a preschool lesson, so I arranged a private lesson to coincide with the big kid lesson. For 6 weeks, my boys happily participated in their private lesson. The cost was substantial, but I figured that they were getting better instruction in a private and I was getting a convenient time slot, so it was worth it.

Gradually, over the last three weeks, my 4 year old has been refusing to participate. The first week, he wanted to get out early, when about 10 minutes of the lesson remained. The next week, he refused to get in, and again missed 10 minutes of the 30 minute lesson. This time, as soon as the instructor came into sight, he buried his head in my lap. I told him it was time for swimming and he said he “needed Mommy.” I offered to sit at the side of the pool, but he wouldn’t come out of my lap. Then, I took him into a private area and told him in strong tone that this was unacceptable and he needed to do his swimming lesson. At that point, he burst into tears. I sat him down on a bench and he proceeded to cry for the entire half hour, sometimes kicking the bleachers and sometimes screaming that he wanted to sit in my lap. The people around me were horrified. Meanwhile, the 3 year old happily went about his swimming lesson.

At the very end the tantrum stopped and he told his teacher that he would swim next week, but then again in the locker room a few minutes later he told me that he doesn’t want to do swimming lessons anymore.

What do I do? I can’t make him get in the pool, and I hate the idea of continuing to pay for lessons while he is not participating. However, if he gets to sit in my lap while the other 5 kids are all in lessons, I feel like he will have won the power struggle? Plus, I really need him to learn to swim, we have a pool in our backyard. But maybe I should just give it time? Do I try again next week, or should I just withdraw from the session and get my money back? Was it just a bad day, combined with the fact that I did let him get out early that time a few weeks ago, and now he is trying to see how far he can take it?

Uncategorized

Previous Post

January 31, 2012

Christmas Gift Round-Up: What were your favorites this year?

Next Post

February 1, 2012 More from the Car Seat Quagmire

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Builders' Favorite Posts Children Education & Homeschool Food and Nutrition Health Home Organization Inside Our Inbox Keeping It Real Liturgical Seasons Marriage Miscellaneous Motherhood and Parenting Nature and the Environment NFP and Fertility Politics and Current Events Pregnancy Recipes Spiritual Life The Catholic Church Thoughts for Thursday Uncategorized

Select a Month April 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Which parable features a man building on rock versus sand?

Select your answer to see how you score.

The Sower The Talents The Wise and Foolish Builders The Workers in the Vineyard