a rugs life

My 5 year-old daughter really dislikes water in her eyes.

Yesterday, on a whim, I bought her swim goggles. I held little hope that the goggles would prevent water seepage, and even if they could, I wondered whether my daughter would be sufficiently brave enough to combat her already well-entrenched fears. But she got the goggles nevertheless, and at least they were successful as a fashion accessory. She wore them from the store to the pool, looking like a little blond alien.

But the incredible thing was when she got to the pool. The swimming instructor helped her put them on correctly, and after that there was no stopping her. My daughter stood waist deep in the water, dunking her head repeatedly. She did it very scientifically, as if it was someone else’s head she was dunking. She would stand up and let the water drip down her hair and face, and then she’d dunk again.

On the ride home, I asked her what it was like, what did she see.

She said, “well….I can see my feet.”