The Olympic Spirits

I cut short Sienna’s summer camp by 4 days. She started going to her swimming class today that already started 4 days ago. It's one of those "success guaranteed" programs. She has 11 lessons to go and we are 5 days away from the Olympic Games. Hopefully on the Games’ opening day, Sienna would be able to float above the water.

Even since Sienna left her infancy, I have been urged by all other parents to get Sienna into the pool. Some even implied that I was putting my daughter’s life in jeopardy if she is disabled in water. This is my thinking: Some skills, like playing piano, had better be acquired when one is very young. Swimming is not one of those things. It saves trouble when she is ready to do it. The time will come for it. Before that, we just make sure that she doesn’t go into the lake, water or sea alone. She is not allowed to walk on the street alone anyway.

Now the time has come. She was in the pool everyday playing at the camp. She enjoys the water. She has all her friends swimming like fish. She knows she has to do it and she can. In the next ten days or so, she is going to get a 10-minute’s rides every morning on the back of my bicycle. The imposed peddling exercise for me would serve as a big bonus for her effort.


We are allowed to look down through the glass wall.