In the afternoon we visited the Orlando Science Center; since we are members and thus didn’t feel any pressure to get the most out of the admission price, we happily toured at Jonathan pace, which meant we actually saw little of the museum. It was the water that first caught his eye, and we watched the fish and the baby alligators and the turtles for a long time. We continued to explore the first floor until we reached Kids Town, which is designed for children under 48 inches tall (and their parents). It was fun to have an excuse to see it, but having done so, my recommendation is to pass it by. Jonathan did have a great time playing with the trucks, and the boats in the water, and talking on the telephones, but he could have done that at home. On the other hand, our house does not have a simulated sewer to run through, which he did at least half a dozen times.
During the IMAX movie about India, Jonathan first watched with interest, then nursed himself to sleep, much like his Aunt Janet at the Exxon (dinosaur) ride at EPCOT. The movie was interesting, but that did not stop me from following Jonathan’s lead in places—minus the nursing.
Porter suggested we stop at The Cheesecake Factory on the way home, and that idea was greeted with resounding enthusiasm by everyone but Jonathan, who didn’t know any better and preferred to sleep through most of our meal. Thus he missed the fabulous Avocado Egg Rolls, but he awakened in time to chow down a couple of pieces of chicken, an entire asparagus stalk, and a few French fries (“dip in ketchup!”).
Our day was so long and so busy I thought we might not swim, but Jonathan thought otherwise, so he and Grandma saw the sunset from the pool. We swam, and swam, and played the usual games: throwing the rings, sweeping with the pool brush, and a game he invented totally on his own, “Dinner ready!” He sits on the step in water up to his chin, asks another person to sit with him, and announces, “Dinner ready!” Then we discuss what we will eat: popcorn, asparagus, cheese, broccoli, carrots, ice cream, bread and milk and blackberries.
For a while I thought we might finish this swim with no new accomplishment to report, but Jonathan had other ideas. We have a large, ring-shaped float that he has been playing with on the steps. He had watched the adults float with it, but found it too big for his comfort. Nonetheless, he enjoyed sitting in the middle on land, or on the first step of the pool, and once again I observed his process of challenge–retreat. Tonight, standing in the middle of the ring with his arms holding the side, iron cross-style, he announced, "Here comes Jonathan!” and floated himself off the steps. He held on for maybe half a minute before tiring and wanting to go back to the steps. He repeated the exercise a few times, then asked to be helped to hold on to the front (a more comfortable position) and float to the deep part of the pool. This we did, ending at the little seat at the other end, and sat down to a triumphant game of Dinner Ready.
Jonathan has grown so comfortable and happy in the pool that he must be watched carefully, but I note that it is not a careless self-confidence he has, but rather a secure trust. He is very good about staying out of the pool or on the steps when there is no adult in the water, and is quite careful when he is on his own. But let a trusted adult be near him in the water, and he will enthusiastically launch himself into deep water, confident loving arms will receive him.
