When a parent has spoke to me about parental leave, the activity that always comes up is swimming. So I signed Leo and myself up to classes at Aquaphine. It wasn't his first time in a pool, having tried it out in Italy over the summer, but it's his first organised class and I wasn't really sure what that would entail. I inevitability think of Nirvana Nevermind when I think of a baby swimming and hoped that today wouldn't involve dunking Leo underwater.
I arrived at the pool 30 minutes early as the start time was awkwardly 13:00, clashing with his lunch. The entrance is bizarrely placed in the corner of a car park behind some bins. I took a lift down one floor and was immediately confronted by a forest of push chairs in a boiling hot cramped room. There was no one to register with or ask what I needed to do, so I just found a seat. Routine out of the window I fed Leo a bottle so he didn't get hungry mid swim. One of the other parents realised I was looking a little lost and told me what to do. I dressed Leo in his day glow swim shorts (a hit with the instructor) and headed for the pool.
The AquaBaby class is 30 minutes long. There were 4 other parents and babies in the class and an instructor, who swims with a funny little doll to illustrate what we should do. Basically it was just a bunch of games and a few songs, Leo loved every minute, but his favorite part seemed to be the ring. He was strapped onto a rubber ring, facing forward with his arms over the front, his legs dangling behind. His normal flapping about motion then worked as a swimming leg stroke and he was able to (unknowingly) propel himself about the pool. The new found freedom of the swimming and the baby jumper are a big relief for him.
The other babies had all been before and were therefore plunged under water at one point. Only for a second and none seemed to really mind, but they definitely didn't enjoy it either. For some reason new comers are spared this potential trauma. Next week I guess he'll be dunked.
I spoke very briefly to the one other Dad that was there and one of the Mums, but nothing more than pleasentries really.
After changing and showering we head towards home and meet my friends Flos, Dave and their 18 month year old Wilf. I've known Flos since art collage, which unbelievably was 13 years ago! They live in London and are visiting Berlin for a weeks holiday. So for the rest of the week I have company.