Without any prompting from his mother or I, my son had asked to take the swim test himself to get the green band.  With the green band, you're free to swim anywhere in the pool, even the deep end.  
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</div><div>He swam to the other side, tread water for a minute, and swam back. Passed the test and got his green band.</div><div>
</div><div>I asked, "why'd you do it?"</div><div>
</div><div>"I want to swim in the deep end." </div><div>
</div><div>"I didn't know you could swim so well."</div><div>
</div><div>He smiled.</div><div>
</div><div>I bet you had the same smile and feeling when you maidened.  It's about doing it yourself and knowing you did it.  </div><div>
</div><div>I maidened my first plane several weeks ago.  It was also my first flight.  Sat morning, I maidened the GP escapade I recently built.  I wouldn't have it any other way.  </div><div>
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