Sophia has been taking swimming lessons for the past couple of weeks at the local pool. While she’s ok at kicking and blowing bubbles she doesn’t like to get her face wet AT ALL. In desperation I headed off to my trusty Target store, bought a mermaid barbie, came home and put it on the counter and said if she had a good swimming lesson and put her face under–like a mermaid does–she’d get the barbie.
I really had little hope of it working, previous attempts at bribes have fallen flat with her. She pretty much does or doesn’t do something when *she* wants too. But the next day off we went to swimming lessons and Voila! she did it!
Today I met a friend who’s oldest son is 2 days older than Sophia at a local splash park– it was the first time either of them had been but we all had a ball and its definitely safe to say we’ll be going back. The park had a little kids area with slides, a lazy river and all kinds of fountains–it was really cool! Sophia was ALL about putting her face in the water today–no head completely under mind you but even still this is a HUGE accomplishment–go barbie!
Yes her hair IS wet and she’s SMILING!
playing on the whale
Holding her nose and going “under” she did this again and again!
Walking back to the chairs with Ryan, ready for lunch and naptime! 
Filed under: Northern VA, Parenting | Tagged: bribery, Ida Lee, Leesburg, Sophia, swimming lessons, va
