Teaching, Learning, Un-Learning, Relearning

This was a fun day for our whole family! We love our extended family and really enjoy spending time together.

When I look back on these pictures, two thoughts come to me immediately: 

1. The memory of his sweet little voice requesting, “piggy-back ride.”

and

2. The recollection that it took A LONG TIME to get rid of that pool routine.

At the time these pictures were taken, we all gave Michael piggy back rides around the pool. It was fun and if not perfectly age-appropriate, close enough. It was a great way to get him to use his words to ask and he had the best time!

There came a time later when we needed to teach Michael that this was no longer safe or appropriate. It doesn’t mean we did anything wrong or made a mistake by allowing the piggy-back rides. They were a vehicle for connection and fun that did not require lots of words.

When he got bigger and did not have a clear sense of whether the person was in the shallow or the deep end, it became important for safety to teach ‘keeping your hands to yourself’ in the pool.  He could have created a dangerous situation by grabbing onto one of us in the deep end.

It’s okay that we had to change the rules.  That said, it took some time to un-learn the old rules and relearn the new rule. 

In general, it takes longer (a lot longer) to un-learn one way of doing things and then re-learn a new way.  Be patient…it will come. Now Michael’s routine in the pool includes walking in step, by step, getting used to the water, walking around the outside of the pool, sitting on the side and sometimes even jumping in or using his innertube. The new routine took a while to develop, but it is appropriate and safe, and of course, FUN!