Swimming is Non-Negotiable
Swimming is non-negotiable in our family. It is a skill that we have decided that they must learn. Why? In a nutshell, it is a safety issue. Plus it is helpful when the boys enlist for National Service.
In a large family with many young children, we cannot keep an eye on all of them all of the time whenever we are at the swimming pool. But why do we need to go to the pool you may ask?
Beach Resorts
When you have a large family, the cheapest and easiest way to take a vacation is to head to nearby Indonesia or Malaysia for a beach resort holiday. And a beach resort holiday equals lots of time spent at beaches and swimming pools. Therefore we need them to be water safe.
Near-Drownings
This decision was further sealed when our 6th child experienced two near-drowning incidents. In the first incident, I was nursing the baby by the poolside when she somehow lost her balance and fell. In the second incident (at a different resort) she stepped into a pool that she thought was shallow.
In both incidences, it happened in a twinkling of an eye. And in both incidences, Big Brother Aaron (then 8 or 9 years old) was able to haul her up quickly and she did not suffer any adverse effects.
It was scary!!! The first incident was scarier to me as I saw her falling in but was too far away and also carrying a baby to reach her in time. If Aaron had not reacted quickly… In the second incident, I was not even near her!
Swimming Lessons
At the moment, four of the children have graduated from their swimming classes. Two started formal lessons last year and so this leaves only the youngest unable to swim. All we require of them is to be able to swim well enough to pass the standardised swimming tests. Once they do that, we stop the lessons. We aim for them to clear with a Gold certification but with the many changes the certification has undergone, we have stopped at Silver for a few of them.
Why take formal lessons and not just let them learn on their own? This is again something we have decided that we would rather pay someone to do it than do it ourselves. Yes, despite the fact that both Henson and I swim. In fact, I used to be a school swimmer.
Different Folks, Different Strokes
I know for other families, learning to cycle is a life skill they insist their children master. But we have decided that we will pass on that. And yes, Henson and I can both cycle. Though I only cycle in straight lines and never uphill!
Your Turn
What about you? What are the non-negotiables in your family? Cooking perhaps? That is definitely on our list! Do you send your children for swimming lessons?
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