Today Halleigh and I had the first session of, mommy and me, swimming lessons. Driving home I got to thinking about how learning to swim is a metaphor for parenting… bittersweet.  Lovingly teaching, supporting, pushing, catching, and guiding them to be comfortable swimming/living on their own.  As I sit here typing this, tears streaming down my face, I realize that I am tired and overly emotional about stupid swimming lessons, and that I have barely begun the parenting journey.  Nonetheless, I am already starting to feel Halleigh becoming independent of me, which IS what I want, but it IS very hard! First weaning, then walking, now swimming… See… it’s bittersweet!

Let me preface this by saying that I am not a poet. I was an English major/ teacher because I love literature, not because I am able to write poetry.

Swimming Lessons

Little fishy you seem to be

Born for the water, asleep in a float toy.

Loving the shower; Loving the bath,

Droplets of water cling to your lashes.

Streams of clear water never a bother.

Little fishy you seem to be

So full of life, zest some may call it.

But not on the first day of lil’fishy class;

You cling to the side unwilling to jump,

The strange environment exposing your need.

Little fishy you seem to be

Not having fun, just sucking your thumb.

Why was the pool your nemesis today?

Normally you smile and play, splashing and kicking.

But not on this morning; you smiles are gone.

Little fishy you seemed to be

A Clam, you’d best be described as

Clingy and scared, all uncharacteristic,

Begrudging the fact that this is not over;

Five weeks of learning, Five weeks foretell.

Little fishy you seem to be

Dreading the next week when we have part two.

Maybe with some practice you will warm up

To the idea of swimming and learning to jump.

You can learn how to swim without losing your need

Little fishy you seem to be

Needing your mother, but afraid of a loss.

Ready to grow in so many ways, I know that

Swimming will bring you much joy in your life.

But I’ll cherish your need holding it close to my heart,

It will be gone all too soon and we’ll swim apart.