Swim Class at Lucky Duck

By MAGGIE WANG

We have started the girls on swim lessons. Sedona tried it out about 8 months ago with Riley at South Bay Aquatics but didn't seem ready. It's a better time now, so here is our attempt to get Sedona and Maven ready for the summer.

I looked into a few options and concluded this was the most financially reasonable while catering to our children's personalities. To give you an idea, private lessons with Bonne Spivel in her backyard would cost $90 for half an hour for both kids. South Bay Aquatics (indoor pool) would cost us around $24 for 15 minutes each.  Lucky Duck Swim School is not much cheaper at $22 for 15 minutes each, but they have this great practice program that we suspected would be perfect for our shy Sedona and young Maven. 

The girls can get in the pool 15 minutes before their lessons and use another 15 minutes after their lessons to practice. For Sedona and Maven, who are somewhat water shy, this first 15 minutes is critical to get them even into the water. 

Maven was instantly okay putting her feet in the water but it took about 10 minutes to get her on the first step. Sedona sat in my lap and watched other kids finish their lessons for about 12 minutes before ever touching the water. (Her first lesson at South Bay Aquatics, she didn't even get into the water.) It's really great at Lucky Duck because Sedona and Maven can watch their instructor, Miss Alicia, give other people lessons and see how it works.

Sedona had such a great time that afterward, while Maven was having her lesson, Sedona was really practicing all the things she was taught: Tigger bounces in the water, walking with your hands on the side, blowing bubbles with her face in the water. 

I am so pleased with our decision, as the girls seem to love it. We are signed up for once a week until May and then will be hitting up the pool twice as week. 

I went to a really enjoyable and relaxing dinner with Anita after this lesson at Sashi's in Manhattan Beach.  She had just done a bar-method workout class and I was jealous because it seems like so much fun. She explained it was $20 each time, and I gasped ... but after telling her my daughters' swim lessons are $22 for 15 minutes each, Bar Method doesn't sound so expensive!  Ha! The things we do for our children ... but well, it's all worth it!