Forget terrible twos, THREE is really the most stubborn age. Our girls learn by age three that Mama & Daddy mean no the FIRST time they say it. By this age, they also learn what the term consequence means. My hubby and I (both first borns) used to grumble about our parents spoiling our younger siblings; we now understand why they did, and are guilty of it as well.
Enter baby girl #3; she was destined to be a princess. We are almost a decade older than when we began this parenting journey; more financially sound, way more tired, and much wiser as to how quickly each childhood stage slips away.We’ve enjoyed EVERY stage with our baby. She dresses to the nines when we run errands (and sometimes that means wearing a dinosaur costume to grocery shop). She ADORES her “seesters” and is always open to the next experience. Her latest adventure was swimming lessons, and this is where the term consequence was cemented into her vocabulary.
Enter baby girl #3; she was destined to be a princess. We are almost a decade older than when we began this parenting journey; more financially sound, way more tired, and much wiser as to how quickly each childhood stage slips away.We’ve enjoyed EVERY stage with our baby. She dresses to the nines when we run errands (and sometimes that means wearing a dinosaur costume to grocery shop). She ADORES her “seesters” and is always open to the next experience. Her latest adventure was swimming lessons, and this is where the term consequence was cemented into her vocabulary.
Day 1 Happy as a clam errrr Mermaid Lesson 1: She’s beyond the moon excited to swim in the pool! She is going to swim “like a mermaid!”
Lesson 2: She’s not thrilled to lay on her back and float, but still thinks swimming is fun!
Lesson 3: So excited to get there to practice mermaid skills, and surprisingly, so ready to leave!
Lesson 2: She’s not thrilled to lay on her back and float, but still thinks swimming is fun!
Lesson 3: So excited to get there to practice mermaid skills, and surprisingly, so ready to leave!
So stubborn! The day before swim lesson #4, I casually mention she gets to swim the next day. Her response, “I do not like swimming, I am not going.” Honestly I ignored her in that moment.
The next day I tell her to hurry up and put on her favorite pink “polka-not” swim suit so we’re not late for lessons. She threw herself to the floor and SCREECHED, “I’m NOT swim!” The meltdown turned into a full blown tantrum on the drive to the pool.
I calmly replied, “You WILL attend your swim lesson. I don’t care if you sit there the whole time, but you will go.”
The next day I tell her to hurry up and put on her favorite pink “polka-not” swim suit so we’re not late for lessons. She threw herself to the floor and SCREECHED, “I’m NOT swim!” The meltdown turned into a full blown tantrum on the drive to the pool.
I calmly replied, “You WILL attend your swim lesson. I don’t care if you sit there the whole time, but you will go.”
The Magical Mermaid Fins Until that day I had no clue just how strong her will was. She sat at the edge of the pool, and no matter what her teacher said, my girl was not getting wet that day. After 15 minutes of stubbornness I whispered in my baby’s ear “if you do not get in the pool, your consequence will be grounding. That means sitting in your bed all day long as soon as we get home.”
She just sat there. And then her instructor brought out the MERMAID fins. Whatever fear or stubbornness was holding my girl hostage-could not stand against the opportunity to swim like a REAL MERMAID.So she got in the water. Five minutes later we found out why she was so difficult, she did not like JUMPING off the wall into the pool. The teacher convinced her to try, and this time, she did not let her head go below the surface. And just like that baby girl was swimming again
She just sat there. And then her instructor brought out the MERMAID fins. Whatever fear or stubbornness was holding my girl hostage-could not stand against the opportunity to swim like a REAL MERMAID.So she got in the water. Five minutes later we found out why she was so difficult, she did not like JUMPING off the wall into the pool. The teacher convinced her to try, and this time, she did not let her head go below the surface. And just like that baby girl was swimming again
Super Swimmer! On the drive home, I asked about the mermaid fins. She told me she really likes them, we need to buy her some, and that she can’t wait to come back to swimming again. Then she remarked about how she got in the water so no “cons-qwenzs” today.
Lesson 5 - I did it mom!!! I jumped! Jumping’s not my favorite. I swam like a mermaid! I love swimming! When will we swim again?
It’s humbling to watch your child conquer her fears and learn obedience at the same time.
Lesson 5 - I did it mom!!! I jumped! Jumping’s not my favorite. I swam like a mermaid! I love swimming! When will we swim again?
It’s humbling to watch your child conquer her fears and learn obedience at the same time.
This post brought to you by MH, mega-momma by day and blogging mammarrazzi by night! If you liked this story, please feel free to share with all the stubborn swimmer Moms/Aunts/Grandmas/Parents you know!
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