So, there was a lot of hype for these poor girls about
swimming.
It started out w/ our photo albums- they were mesmerized w/
the "big water" aka. the ocean...which
they have never seen before.
Then in a bag of donated clothes for the twins we found a
few 1 piece swimsuits with matching water shorts. I begged them to try them on but did I
mention to you that these girls are Modest with a capital M! Which of course if a good thing but when you
want to take them swimming- that became a bit of an issue.
They could not believe that I own a bathing suit for myself-
even when I told them that I swim with my water shorts on!
This weekend we pretended to drive to home depot (because
you know- doesn't every family go there a few times a week?) and after a while
Jacob noticed that the GPS stated that we were 5 hours away from our
destination. We surprised them to a
weekend get-away in New Hampshire
at a hotel w/ a pool.
Helen was screaming enthusiastically along w/ the other kids
at the idea but quickly informed us that she will NOT be swimming. Jules did not like the idea of being surprised,
"Why you no tell us? Crazy." She seemed a bit nervous and the 1st thing
she asked me was if I packed her Tigrinya Bible. In the secretive packing rush of things I
missed that and she was crushed- (she
got the Bible in her own language for Christmas and since then she has not
missed a day! I know- what a bad mom!)
Helen's 1st question was if I brought her doll...check.
So before hand, I scoured many a stores for boy style trunk
shorts for girls- to no avail! When we
got to the pool on the 1st night- Helen stood firm and sat in a chair- with her
winter coat zipped up- and watched us all swim- trying to take it all in.
Once we made it to the pool
Oh boy- did Jerusalem LOVE it!!!
At 1st she was very nervous and scared of going too deep. Before long she was jumping in the shallow
end and dunking her head up and down. Whenever
we tried holding her belly and having her kick her arms and legs to teach her
how to swim she would scream- she was so scared of being dropped. She preferred to bounce around splashing and flailing her limbs and screaming at the top of
her lungs. To be honest- there were
times when I'd want to whistle and turn
my head- like that, "who's child is
this?" time that mother's sometimes have.
Those times included were when poor bikini clad women entered the pool area
and Jules mouth would drop and she would say to me, "Oh my goodness mommy-
america
crazy! Underwear!!!!!???" Even after I explain to them that those are
bathing suits for swimming they would argue - "No- underwear-
ewww!"
See the crazy eyes! So the 1st night
The next day Helen did not have to be asked twice...she was
in- yes fully clothed :)
So final conclusion- they loved the pool, they are mad that
they cant swim, they think american swim wear is crazy, and I promised to find
some cute surf suits for them- in pink and yellow accordingly.