When we were waiting to adopt, one of our social workers told us that getting to know our child would be like unwrapping a surprise Christmas gift.
I was thinking of that this week as I watched our 4-year-old son at his swim lesson.
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Happy to see Mama, but too busy to pause for a photo
As a child, I could have gone my whole life without entering a pool and been completely content.
Swim lessons? No, thank you.
My parents signed me up year after year and I would barely put my head underwater.
But Daniel?
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He’s like a little fish, splashing around in the water, putting his head under, kicking his way across the pool, hanging out in the water like a champ.
I don’t mean he’s headed for the Olympics.
I just mean he isn’t afraid of the water.
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In fact, he loves it. He exudes confidence. On a surprise visit to his lesson this week I watched as our sometimes strong-willed child did exactly what the coach asked him to do. And he was happy to do it.
It’s all no thanks to me. A few months ago Daniel’s godmother offered to take him for swim lessons. She picks him up, takes him to the pool, makes sure he gets a treat from the vending machine afterward, and then takes him back to preschool.
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He feels important and special at a time when his brother is talking about how awesome kindergarten is—and he’s learning how to swim.
He’s also getting really good at peeling Starburst wrappers.
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He’s not likely to win any races anytime soon, but as I watched him floating on his back in the pool, I realized he’s already left me in his dust.
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Thank goodness for that.