Why do I bother???

I just got back from swimming lessons. 5 kids in 3 different classes...only one really knows how to swim (or lack of better words - she can get herself to the edge if she goes in). Mass chaos. Everyone seems to notice when I come in the door...or maybe it is that Kd announces our presence everywhere we go in a LOUD voice. Needless to say, we don't sneak in anywhere!

Ok - when it was just Kd and Ky, I took them to swimming lessons at Place A. I took lessons from this instructor when I was their age. She is great, wonderful and the kids learn and they are safe. But with 4 (or 5) of them swimming, I cannot afford to send all of them. We belong to Place B, and I thought that the kids could take lessons and I could work out. I was wrong. Place B does good, but because they don't belt the smaller kids, I don't feel safe. And with good reason. Kb has no fear at all. So here is today's class:

Ky wasn't supposed to swim due to behavior issues, but as the day progressed, I just needed a break - so into the pool she went. We made a grand entrance as usual into the Place B. We had 5 minutes for everyone to use the bathroom (although we just went before we left) - only to find that 2 of the 4 stalls were out of order due to overflow issue (again me and bathrooms) and it reeked of urine. Me, being the strict mommy that I am, made everyone put their shoes back on before the used the restroom.

Into the pool area...got shoes off, cover ups off, goggles on and hair/head cap thingy on. Good to go. Then I noticed Kp kept putting her goggles on top of her cap. When I asked her, she said she was wearing them there. In haste - because the class was beginning, I took them off and said, "ok, go swim if you don't need the goggles!" Apparently she took major offense to what I said and started wailing. Great - as if I don't draw enough attention. So after another brief "chat," the goggles went back on. Whew - all were in the pool - all was good for about 10 minutes. Then remember how I said Kb has no fear? He generally spends the entire swimming class bobbing his head under the water. Which is not a big deal - until he lets go of the wall. Remember when I said they don't belt up the kids either? Well under he went. And as all good mommies - I went charging to the water. So much for looking presentable at WalMart after classes! Wet from foot to knee. Shoes totally sloshy. I got him and he was ticked that I made him sit on the wall when it wasn't his turn (not because he was afraid). Again, me in the middle of a scene! I made out ok, the other mom did a seal dive to the edge of the water to retrieve her little girl about 10 minutes after my "show." The front of her was totally soaked. Hummmmm, maybe they will start belting the little ones????

And my trip to WalMart was uneventful (yet wet)...Yeah!