Peter Pan Mini Golf & the Cousins

I took the girls to play mini golf this weekend. I was a bit worried that they would be way too young for it.

Then I remembered that it doesn't really matter if they can truly "play" mini golf. The point of it is to just have fun and they had a great time. They weren't that great at actually putting. I'd say it was closer to shuffle board, with the girls pushing the ball with the putter and occasionally just picking it up and putting it in the hole. Needless to say, we had a great time.



I also took some great pictures of the girls handstands against the door. They did this on their own, and wow, were we impressed. I can't believe the upper body strength they have. I guess all children are like this, but so few adults.







On Sunday we met up with Tia Ivette, Isabella, and Austin before Isabella went to church camp. Oh, I remember how great church camp was as a kid. Little Austin was so sad to be without his sister for a week. If I have ever seen something more endearing, I don't know what it was. Such a great kid. They both are. The cousins are getting so big too. Its hard to imagine that Isabella was the age of the girls when I met her. Time is speeding by.

Swim Lessons

I was so worried about the girls going to their first swim lesson. The instructor told us that it would be best for the girls to be at the lesson without us. Children do better without their parents hovering over them? How could that possibly be true?

Afterwards, Evelyn beaming with a huge grin said, "I swam all by myself." They learned to float like jellyfish, swim under the water, and kick. They'll continue taking the lessons every Saturday. Perhaps indefinitely.

For Andre, teaching the girls to swim is on his list of things the girls must know how to do for basic survival skills and we will fail them as parents if they don't know basic survival skills. I'm not sure how long the list is, but I think being able to wrestle a tiger was somewhere on it.

I like being able to put the girls into different lessons. I remember as a kid it was always difficult for our family to come up with the funds for extracurricular activities. We did a few things now and then, but not like our kids are doing. I vaguely recall my father saying boldly, "best way to get yer kid to learn how to swim is to throw 'em in." Which would explain why I still tend to doggy paddle and dislike going underwater.

I think its important for children to have actual lessons (as opposed to the "throw them in" technique). For one, to do something as a child, even for a short period of time, appears to have a long term impact on your ability to pick it up again as an adult. For example, Andre took tennis lessons as a kid and his ability to pick up other similar sports is great. Even if you don't use the skill later in life, you have still learned to think a different way.

I also believe that is important for children to have something they enjoy doing. Something that gives meaning to their lives. Gives them something to be proud of and something to work for.