Saturday, the fifteenth day of the eighth month in the year of our Lord, two thousand fifteen. A day that will forever live in our memories…
as the very first time Nate ever held hands and sang Motor Boat, Motor Boat.
Aaaaaaaah… that’s the sound of mermaids singing, streamers flying and doves taking flight.
But let’s back up.
I’m not sure the last time I reported out on Aquaman and Land Rover, but it was probably back after we’d graduated from Barnacles where Baby Nate spent the entire time crying “No under, No under” and pleading “No agua!” as we approached the Almaden Valley Aquatic Club. And I spent the entire time wiping snot from his face and weighing the pros and cons of traumatizing my two-year-old versus teaching him to be a quitter or in the end, both.
So we took a little time off.
Enough time so that when we went back, I no longer had to don a bathing suit. Back at that time, our new class had a teacher named Maddie. Miss Maddie was the most darling strawberry blond with perfect freckles across her Disney-princess nose. Never underestimate the power of a beautiful high schooler to coax an aquaphobe back into the pool.
Unfortunately, Maddie must have graduated or gotten a better gig in Anaheim and Nate’s class graduated to Miss Jenn. Now Miss Jenn had two of the most precious dimples any swim teacher has ever possessed. She won Nate over and even helped him to walk to the door all by himself when his name was called. And then Miss Jenn moved on to a better job modeling for the makers of Cabbage Patch and our little class of three rambunctious boys, and Nate, was inherited by Miss Sierra.
Miss Sierra will go down in the history books as the teacher under whose tutelage, Nate blossomed. Or transformed. Or was bitten by a radioactive fish and donned an entirely new identity. He “loves” swimming lessons. He jauntily races to the door when he sees her coming. His glides have become the most improved she’s ever seen. And for the last three Saturdays, he held hands and SANG with his class. Miss Sierra even recognized the gravity of this achievement, finding me in the shower room and exclaiming, “He sang!” He was even the last one out of Nonna’s pool two weekends ago.
Jacob, of course, is still a little fish. It is scientifically impossible for that child to remain grumpy if dipped in chlorinated water. After years with Miss Danae, the Béla Károlyi of swim instructors, JJ is now with Miss Summer. We were such proud parents as we watched Jakey free-style the entire length of Nonna’s pool.
This past weekend, I watched in anticipation as one teacher picked Nate up by the armpits and dumped him into the deep end, twice. He completed both circle-swims back to the side, unassisted, earning a bright pink ribbon. We were both so excited, I could hardly believe it. His smile was triumphant. Not only did he “o-fish-ally” graduate from Jellyfish to Octopus, but I’d even venture to say he’s graduated from Land Rover to King Triton.