Sam's swim instructor pulled me aside last week and told me that Sam often does not listen and that she is challenging.  She can do the work but does not want to.  I asked for an example and she said that when they were practicing a stoke, Sam stopped and said, "I don't want to do it this way.  Mermaids don't swim like this."  I tried not to laugh out loud.

Over the course of the week I thought about this.  Let me back up by saying that this particular teacher never impressed me.  She never smiles and always has a look on her face like she just ate a bunch of lemons.  Further, I have always gotten great feedback from Sam's teachers at school, for the past 3 years, about how polite she is and what a good student she is.  Something did not jive.

This week I decided to sit and watch her class.  Usually I will do something with Kit and Susanna - but this week I put them in child watch to play so I could watch Sam.

As usual the teacher had the sour face on.  I did notice that she always makes Sam go last.  Sam is slower.  She would constantly tell Sam that she was doing something wrong and then kind of move her thru the water to get done.  What really irritated me was that often she treated Sam like she wasn't trying, when it was evident she was trying, she just wasn't getting it.  This was when they were working on the breaststroke, which is not an easy stroke to master.

Many times the teacher was telling the others to do something else and leaving Sam behind and then getting irritated cause Sam was not doing what the others were.  I felt my blood begin to boil!  But, I was going to stay calm in front of Sam and try to make this fun for her. 

I would catch her eye when she was swimming and give her a thumbs up.  She would beam from ear to ear and give me a thumbs up too.  When she was waiting to get in the water while the teachers were off with the others, I would go to her and whisper something positive in her ear like, "You swim beautifully like a mermaid.  I think you are just the best.  Now when it is your turn, let me see you best mermaid swim."  Again, this would make her smile.

I am going to say something to the head of the swim department after Sam's last class next week.  I want to wait til she is done, so the teacher does not bring it out on her if it gets back to her.  And let me tell you my thoughts on why I am going to say something.

First, kids function best off positive reinforcement.  There are many ways to do this even if the child isn't getting the stroke.  "Good effort John Doe!  Now next time try doing X and it will be even better."  "Great energy Sally Somebody!  You try so hard!"  "Much better Billy Bob - you are really trying!"   When kids feel empowered, their whole demeanor changes and their confidence grows.  Second, this class if about having fun and confidence.  I mean, c'mon, it is an advanced class... but for 3-5 year olds.  If Sam was that talented with this that she was going to be an Olympic swimmer, we'd find a trainer and such.  Puh-lease!  This class should be fun.  For us, the main thing we wanted was for Sam to have fun and to help with her fear of putting her head under water.  (Residual fear from her accident...)  Third, a teacher of kids should smile and like her job.  If I can tell from 50 feet away that she does not, trust me, so can the kids.

Ben laughed at me staking out the swim class, but I do not care.  When it comes to my kids, I do not care if I am a PIA.  I do not expect them to be pandered to and I know how to let them learn by their mistakes but at the same time I WILL make sure they are treated with respect.

Momma Wendy is on the prowl.  MEOW!