OP, it can be quite frustrating but honestly if you kids can stand in the water safely and splash or swim with assistance (noodles for example) I revisit it another time. But I think it must feel doubly more frustrating for you being in Southern California where swimming pools are probably more common, therefore seeing kids who can swim at more of an ease. It doesn't sound like you're at the pool daily? it is much harder to become "better" at something without that daily exposure, but I just wanted to him in though cuz I kind of get your frustration. I'm a swimmer through and through and keep seeing half of kids DS2 age swimming without their puddle jumpers while DS2 is still in his. We have told him this is the last summer to be wearing his Puddle jumper, simple because at 48lbs, he is nearing the max weight of wearing one!
Mummy to DS1-6/11 and DS2-1/14