Ringing of the Bell

Carli has had a love/hate relationship with swimming this whole semester.  She is not a fan and does not like to go.  Keith and I have been trying to figure out a way to best communicate with her that just b/c she doesn't like something does not mean she has the right to not do her best or to pitch a fit.  Finally, I sat her down and told her that she could quit swimming when Ms. Barbara graduated her out of Beginner 1.  She would not graduate until she could pass the swim test and she would not be allowed to take the swim test until Ms. Barbara said she was ready.  And as long as she refused to do her best, screamed like a baby and threw fits, Ms. Barbara would not give her the test. 

That seems to have worked because now in Carli's mind she has a goal and an end in sight.  It was amazing the transformation.  We were not looking forward to swimming after Thanksgiving break b/c we had not gone for two weeks and the first class back things were about par for course.  I was fully expecting today to be no different.  But I reminded Carli of the goal and she left me speechless.  She got in her head that she was going to graduate and man did she do awesome!  Ms. Barbara was absolutely speechless! 

The last thing Carli said before she went out to the pool was she wanted to do so good that Ms. Barbara let her ring the yellow bell.  And she did!  Ringing the yellow bell is not something that you get to do just any 'ol day at swimming lesson, ringing the yellow bell is a VERY big deal.  I am pretty sure today - Carli was VERY proud of herself...as was her Momma.