Swimming

Mary was exited; they were all going to go to the swimming pool.

Mary loved the sea, so she was pretty sure she’d like the swimming pool too.  

Mary had heard stories.   

One said there were flumes and slides. 

Another promised there was all sorts of different toys and foam floats that could be used.

Mary just wanted to get in the water.

Mary loved to swim at the beach but it could be really cold sometimes, hopefully it would be nice and warm in the pool.

Mum was ready, Joe was ready even dad was coming, and he was ready too. 

Off they went.

Walking up to reception waiting for mum and dad to pay and collect the brightly collared bracelets for each of them to wear Mary caught a glimpse of the pool.  

My goodness it was really big.

Mary felt a few butterflies in her tummy.

Once they were all sorted, they all walked down into the changing area.  

There was lots of space and lots of different sized rooms. 

Mum thought it best if they all got changed together, that way hopefully, nothing would get lost.

Dad took Joe to the baby pool, there were so many toys and interesting things for Joe.

Mum took Mary over to a bigger pool where a lady was waiting for them.

“Good morning Mary” said the Lady, “My name is Alice and we’re going to learn some swimming skills today, does that sound like fun?” asked Alice.

“Yes,” replied Mary cautiously.

“That’s fantastic, let’s get started.” Bellowed Alice

Mary nodded; mum was just in reaching distance so everything was going to be OK, even with the butterflies in her tummy.

The lesson began, first just gentle swimming forward and trying a few different swimming strokes, as well as swimming with different types of the brightly colored floats.    

Then Alice asked Mary to try some under water moves like retrieving some brightly colored toys at the bottom of the pool.

Mary was just getting the hang of all of these new skills when the lesson was over.

“Thank you “whispered Mary, she had been having so much fun and didn’t really want to go.

“No problem Mary you’re a very good student,” advised Alice. 

“How about we see what Joe and Dad are up to?” offered Mum

Dad was busy splashing around with Joe when Mum and Mary spotted them.

“Oh my goodness, “How much fun are you both having here!  Exclaimed Mum jokingly.

“Our swimming time is almost up, we better get changed, we might still be in time for some ice cream.”  Advised Mum with a smile.

Mum and dad took the towels and the shower things out of the locker and headed over to the showers to get all of the chlorine out of everyone’s skin and hair.

Once they were done they all headed back to the changing room with all of their items from the locker.

 It was so much harder to get dressed again after getting all wet than it was before, thought Mary.

All dressed and hair all tied up, it was easier than trying to get it dry and neat again.

Time for the promised Ice-cream, Mary and Joe sat happily licking their chosen flavors

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I think we’ll all sleep really well this evening, thought Mary 

©joannehepburn 26/06/2016

Misbehaving

Mary was bored, bored, bored.

Joe was sleeping so she couldn’t even play or even tickle him for fun.  All of her toys were even boring today, and couldn’t think of anything to draw or paint or make out of play dough. 

No thoughts sounded exiting, just boring things that Mary had done so many times before.

What to do? 

What was new and exiting to do?

What was interesting to do?

Mary picked up and started bouncing a ball thinking of something interesting to do.

“Take that outside please Mary, “Mum requested, “not in the house please Mary.”

Mary found a slightly smaller ball, but carried on bouncing it anyway.

“Take the ball outside so nothing will get broken please Mary.”  Instructed mum again, a little bit more cross this time..

Mary didn’t like that suggestion so she threw the ball down, to which it bounced and smashed a picture frame!

"Go and sit on the stairs and think about what you have done," Bellowed Mum.

Mary didn’t like this.  Mary wasn’t even sure what she had done!

Mary sat on the stairs and tried to think.

Mary thought, and thought some more.  

She threw the ball because she was annoyed and she was bored, but she couldn’t have known what the ball was going to do!

But she did throw it a bit hard, and with a bit more strength than she should have done.

Should she have thrown the ball?

No she shouldn't have.  Now there could be broken glass on the floor that joe or mum could cut themselves on!

OH no, now Mary knew what she had done, and she could see now why mum got angry.

After a few minutes mum came out to the corridor to join Mary on the step.

“Have you thought about what happened Mary? “ Asked Mum.

“Yes” said Mary very quietly.

“OK, why was it wrong?” asked mum.

“I threw the ball too hard.” Said Mary.

“Its not just that Mary you know not to throw anything indoors, its not a playing field. You could’ve hurt Joe or me or yourself! Said mum its not just you in the room and its not just your things, they are everyone’s, and you need to remember everyone has the right to their items and their space too.”

“I know” said Mary.

“What will you do next time?” asked mum.

“I’ll take the ball outside or I’ll draw with my pencils.”

Mary was quiet and looked down

“Its alright, Mary, but only if you know why I was angry and know why I won't like you to do it again”.

“You don’t want me to throw things about as things get broken and people could get hurt?” said Mary hoping that was right.

“Yes Mary, now doesn’t that sound sensible?”

“Yes “ replied Mary while shuffling her feet.

“Good,” nodded mum with a smile, “Now lets go back inside and see if we can get some beautiful pictures drawn to put up on the the kitchen wall”.

©joannehepburn 05.95.2016