restructures

Ada recently started to take swim lessons. She loves being in the water, and thanks to the invention of water wings has experienced some freedom in the pool this summer. However, we felt that it was about time for her to get some real instruction.

For the next 3 weeks Ada will spend a couple evenings a week working with a swim instructor at the pool near her school learning how to kick properly, move her arms, and to float without the aid of a float belt or water wings.

Ada takes this job VERY seriously. After all, we told her that she can't go down the water slide until she learns how to swim. Who knew that THAT would be the only motivation she needed.

To date she has had two lessons. Both were about the same. Ada putting on her most serious of serious faces, mouth clenched as tight as she can get it, goggles down to cover her eyes, and her little body motoring for 30 minutes straight (no breaks). Perhaps the most hilarious part was watching her balance her desire to stay focused and maintain her serious clenched mouth while also exuding her natural wide grin that pops out when she is having the time of her life. The smile ended up winning and she ended up swallowing a bit of the pool water and spitting all over her instructor.

Along with the seriousness has come a bit of silence. Ada doesn't really want to talk about her swim lessons that much, and has especially shied away from any talk of her instructors.

Until yesterday. The pool that she does her lessons at is in the same park complex where we play floor hockey. We had arrived early for our pick up hockey session and I was walking Ada to the bathroom - a path that takes us past the pool. When we got to the pool Ada correctly stated "Hey, this is where I do my swim lesson!" I responded with a yup.. and did you know this is where Reese's birthday party is going to be. This really REALLY confused Ada. How could there be a party at a pool (oh boy does she have a lot to learn) and as she was throwing the idea around in her head she finally let out what was causing so much consternation.

"Are my restructures going to be there?"

"Your what?"

"My restructures"

"What is a restructure"

"You know, my RESTRUCTURES"

"Uh"

"My restructures, are they going to be there to help me swim"

"OHHHHH Instructors! No, I don't think so, the party is just for fun. You'll just be swimming around with your friends."

Ada got quiet and you could see she was still a little conflicted. Excited at the prospect of a day in the pool without having to go through the grueling kicking and paddling exercises, and a little disappointment that her new favorite pool buddies would not be there.

Some how I think she'll survive.