Mermaid

We had an amazing day yesterday although ended up being very energetic. Rox and April did some painting in the morning then Daz got home early in the afternoon on his study day and we decided to go to the pool. Rox really wanted to go to the pool because the night before in the bath she went underwater. bigtime. Which is amazing cause till now Rox has been quite fearful and cautious about putting her head right under the water and swimming under water. But in the bath with goggles on she just did it with great gusto and decided she wanted to try it in the pool. So off we went. Roxie was swimming underwater! She was jumping in, experimenting with floating and holding her breath. I was floored at how suddenly she just was able and so confident to do it. All on her own without us or anyone else 'teaching' her how to do it. Of course I ought to just expect that this sort of thing happens all the time but everytime something suddenly really comes into focus like that it really is astonishing. Especially out of season! That's very like Roxie!
It got me thinking too...she said to me as she was playing around with floating that she could never do that with her bubble and it felt unsafe... Why did we even bother with any kind of floatation device to aid swimming? I can't believe I actually took Rox to swimming lessons when she was 2! (didn't last long thank goodness - cause I thought the kids were treated crudely and insensitively, even with parents in attendence) It seems obvious now to just be with them, no parapharnalia (unless specifically asked for) until they decide to do their thing when they're absolutely ready. I think I'm going to leave the whole riding a bike thing alone now too. All Rox's homeschool friends are into riding, some on training wheels most are off them. I'm now realizing what I felt deep down that Rox will do it when she's ready. Training wheels feel really unsafe for Roxie. She doesn't trust them. She'll work out her own way of learning to ride. Then it'll be safe for her cause she'll design her own method.
It's tricky for ME not to feel pressured by others! Isn't that crazy. I go on about freedom and choice yet thwart Rox's slient choices because of mummy peer group pressure...gotta let go. gotta chill out. I'm learning all the time!