Family Night

This last Friday was family night at the Y and we took the boys for swimming and snacks. It still amazes how fearless they are in the pool. My own mom is deftly afraid of the water. She lived very near the Fox River in Illinois growing up and had to cross it every day to get to and from school. Her own parents instilled her with a fear of the water as a safety mechanism (she'll stay away from the dangerous flowing water if she is afraid of it so no need to worry about her drowning). She took it upon herself though to avoid passing this trait on to her own children. We lived near a lake and she got us all in swimming lessons at young ages and even, though she was nearly paralyzed by her fears, managed to go into that water with us and even help teach us how to put our faces in the water and blow bubbles (something she admits to this day was extremely traumatic to her). Her efforts paid off of course and all her children love water and water sports and now her grandchildren are growing up fearless of water.
Of course, I'm much like my grandmother. I worry about them venturing into the deep end with that courage and not having the skills to back it up. I wonder why my older son doesn't want me within an arms length of him in water over his head? I think, maybe my grandma was right and maybe I should instill some fear into these fearless boys? It is amazing how things come full circle. My grandma worried about my mom and made her fear water so she would stay away from the dangerous river. My mother took the opposite tack and struggled to pretend not to be afraid to instill us with confidence and comfort in and around water so that we might enjoy it, albeit safely. Now, here I am and I see these little boys so completely fearless that I think they need some fear to keep them safe. It really was "Family Night" as my wife, my sons and I were joined in that pool, not only by all the other families present, but also by thoughts of my mom and grandmother and their dealings with water and fear. Which example do I follow? I see the benefits and risks of each example set, but unlike Timothy, who got that consistent modeling of faith from his grandmother, and his mother (see 2 Timothy 1:5) I am left torn.
Mom, got it right. She endured a lot to right the wrong her mother passed to her and I can't see myself resorting to my grandmother's tactics. I'll just keep them going in their swimming lessons so that that fearless courage in and around water develops along with a sense of responsibility and safety. Keep swimming boys.