LJ Idol Season 11: I'm the Usain Bolt of Running From My Problems

[xlovebecomesher]

I stood there on the high dive shivering with knees knocking. Everyone made it look so easy. You just point and raise your arms above your head together, bend over, and go off the diving board. Even the little kids younger than me could do this

Comments

[spiffikins]

This is really well written!

My mom never learned to swim, and was terrified of the water. I remember her telling the story of how she decided to conquer her fear and learn to swim. She signed up for swimming lessons, it was a small group of adults - all of whom had never learned to swim and who were afraid.

She went to lessons every week and the teacher would be in the water with them, and encourage them, and she was able to learn and participate and did all the skills.

The last lesson came, and they had a "test" - they had to perform each of the skills and then would graduate with their certificate and she would KNOW how to swim!

She got to the class and the teacher walked in, dressed in an expensive suit. He had a dinner or date that he was going to immediately after the class.
My mother was CONVINCED that there was NO WAY that the teacher would jump into the pool, in his expensive suit, and save her, if she was drowning. She could NOT force herself to even get into the water, much less complete the test.

After that, she gave up and just decided she was someone who couldn't swim. But - like you - she was determined NOT to pass her fear to her kids. AND she made sure that all four of us, were put into swimming lessons as soon as we were old enough - we all had to learn to swim, because SHE wasn't going to be able to save us - and she needed to believe that we would be safe in the water.

I also feel like there was definitely a period of time, back in the late 80s/early 90s when "diving into water and breaking your neck" was a Thing that kept coming up as Something That Happened. Because I definitely have a healthy caution of diving into water - and never dive into any open water - lakes/oceans - no matter how deep it looks. I am pretty sure that I have dived off the high dive in a pool, at least once - but it wasn't fun :D

Snorkeling though - I really hope that one day you are able to try that - it is something you can do with a life vest on - maybe that would ease your fears? Floating on top of the water, with your face in the water, eyes open and breathing calmly and normally through the snorkel - it's SO awesome! Maybe just practicing in a pool with the snorkel while dog paddling around, would get you used to breathing through the tube?

[xlovebecomesher]

I'm glad that she did not pass the fear to you or your siblings! My mother in law is also afraid of water and my father in law made sure that Jon and his siblings learned to swim and not acquire her fear.

I wonder too now how much of this was a true story and how much is urban legend to scare kids away because I know people who have similar stories of why they are afraid and I can't imagine that there are soooooooo many people with broken necks due to diving. But the story was effective in scaring me!

I may one day try it again with a life vest but the thought alone scares me lol.

[spiffikins]

Maybe it's like the "stop, drop and roll" slogan that we all grew up with? I mean - based on how OFTEN that was reiterated, child-me really assumed that at SOME POINT in my life, I was ABSOLUTELY going to be on fire?

[xlovebecomesher]

OMG I remember child-me worrying I was going to be on fire one day!

[spiffikins]

I wonder if they still teach that in elementary schools these days?

[xlovebecomesher]

Not in the elementary schools I've worked in!