Swimming Lessons

Tobias has always been kind of a fish. But swimming for real is a whole different matter. He has been taking lessons for quite a while now. They are always on mondays right after school. That’s when Lisa’s “on duty”. I have been once or twice after work, but never took my camera. During the vacation they were on a different schedule. I got to take him one wednesday. This time I did take my camera and took some nice pictures and movie clips. Here is one of them. Right after the vacation he was bumped up one group, to the group right before you can get your diploma.

I hope that he will get that sometime really soon. Not that I worry about him not being able to stay afloat or anything, but well, I guess it feels even safer when he stays afloat with his diploma or something like that…

First Day of Group 3

I have said this many times and I am sure I am gonna say it many times to come….: I can’t believe how fast my little boy is growing. Although he is still a little boy in many many ways, he is also becoming a big boy in many many ways… He is no longer a “kleuter”, he is now a schoolboy… in Group 3…

He is so enthusiastic about it, and that is such a joy to see. He comes home every day telling us about the new word he can read or the new letter he can write. Today the word was “lip”. I often try to remember how that went with me, but it is hard to remember that and compare it to your own kid. Even my parents have a hard time remembering, or at least comparing. All I can say is that it is FAST! We already had some books that he would read, very slowly, but the speed is picking up and the help required is decreasing rapidly. Soon, I am sure, he will read a bed-time story to me rather than the other way around.

Another very interesting thing is all the stuff he wants to do on top of that. All of a sudden he can tie his shoe-laces… all it took was showing him once, helping him twice, and now he can do it. Of course we went out and got him laced, rather than Velcro shoes…

Another thing it telling time. He has had a watch, but the battery was dead. Well, we went out to have it replaced, but it still didn’t work. He was much upset at that, so we got him a new watch. He is wearing it proudly and trying hard to tell time. He was already able to tell whole hours, but now he is able to tell half hours as well, and sometimes quarters.

Finally, every summer, right after the vacation, there is a summer party at school. Everyone is invited, the adults get to drink beer and the kids get to play games and eat, among other things, pancakes. We made some pancakes (which I had to buy back for a euro a pop at the party ) and while I was doing that Tobias said: “Papa, if I want a pancake I am just going to ask for it, because I am not shy anymore because I am in Group 3 now.”. I was quite stunned and not quite convinced, but it was true. Before he had to have one of us accompany him to games or in getting food or drinks. Not this time… He did that all by himself.

Proud? Yes!

Sad? Well, a little I guess, but in a happy kind of way (does that make any sense?).