Peeper the water weasel

Yesterday Peeper graduated from her first swim class.

Ok, maybe “graduated” is too fancy a word. But her first swimming lessons ended, and she got a certificate, so that counts, right?

Peeper squeals and bucks her whole body in excitement when we put on her swim diaper and when we walk up to the local Y. She knows what’s going on.

Her joy overflows the minute she sticks her toes in the water. She must remember the version of “If You’re Happy and You Know It” that we sing in class—the part that says “If you’re happy and you know it splash your hands”—because she slaps water from the beginning of class to the end.

“She’s like one of those wind up toys,” her teacher told me the last day of class. “You know, the ones that you wind up, set in the water and watch as they swim away?”

Yep, that’s her.

Ten Thousand Hour Mama

Not that I’m surprised. All four of us kids were nicknamed water weasels because we took to the water so well. When I was born, my family lived on a lake in South Dakota. Although we moved away before I could form any clear memories of it, summer days were spent down at the dock from sunrise to sundown.

Once we moved to Oregon, we quickly adopted the local kayak culture.

I was probably 7 or 8 for my first time solo in an inflatable kayak. The cold and rainy weather was a harbinger of the fiasco to come. I accidentally steered my IK to the bank and got stuck in some trees. Crying, I wanted to abandon the trip and tried to climb onto shore.

“Don’t get out of the boat!” my dad shouted from his own IK, as it would have floated downstream.

My younger sister Amy and I on the banks of the Willamette River
My younger sister Amy and I on the banks of the Willamette River

Thankfully, I overcame that terrible start and spent years kayaking the rivers of Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Colorado.

My dad jokes about getting Peeper into a tiny kayak and starting her rolling lessons. Her first whitewater river trip is still a few years away, but she’s living up to her water weasel heritage.

0 thoughts on “Peeper the water weasel

  • June 6, 2014 at 12:46 pm
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    Good for Peeper! My kids love swim lessons, too.

    Reply
  • June 6, 2014 at 2:39 pm
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    If you get a certificate it is a big deal. She worked hard for that! 🙂 My cousins called me a water rat when I was little. You could never get me out of the water. I am still the same way!

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  • June 6, 2014 at 5:46 pm
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    Smart to start them early! I love swimming. My friends own a private swim lesson center (babies to adults) if you ever want their info let me know.

    Reply
  • June 7, 2014 at 12:40 am
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    So cute!! Congrats to Peeper! I grew up here and have never been kayaking in Oregon. White water rafting, yes, but kayaking, no. Where’s your favorite place to go that has rentals? It’s actually on our list for this summer!

    Reply
    • June 7, 2014 at 10:49 am
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      I’m not so sure on the rentals—we own our own kayaks—but I love sections of the McKenzie outside of Eugene. The Rogue, Deschutes, N. Santiam, Umpqua and others are fun and gorgeous, too!

      Reply
  • June 7, 2014 at 6:17 am
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    I love this! It was such a treat to watch the two of you at the swim lesson. And yes, it took me back to the times I was in the lake and then pool with you. When you were a little one, Dad and I would take you in the lake and you’d ‘swim’ in between us. Such fun, wonderful memories. Which makes me so happy and grateful to be a part of Peeper’s life! I can’t wait to get into the pool (kitchen included) with her. And yes, Grandpa and the river are much-awaited, upcoming thrills too. xoxo

    Reply

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