The student who can't swim

My horror at a supposedly swimmer who sank in water once he stops moving!

When i demostrated the caterpillar drill (the undulation for dolphin kick), the kid fall flat into the water and start yanking his knees in a stomping motion!  My heart sank when i saw this, but then the fact that he trusted me enough to fall flat in the water and attempting the undulation in his own way tells me he believe in me!

As an adult, how many person can you lists that truly believes in you, the things you do, and willing to have a go at your instructions?  Much as i despair at this 9yo's total lack of water skills, i also apprehended at the sametime my huge responsibility at a kid's development from a young age.  I must not lose my temper and bring him down, i must give him hope and believe in himself.  I must give him lots of encouragement to take as many baby steps as necessary to help him achieve his goal to be able to swim.

Alright, i know it is meanless to try undulation for the day, i have to teach him to float, dive, all over again, the correct way.  It is the beginning of the December school holidays, i hoped to see him swim the butterfly before school reopens in January.