Aiden, my four year old couldn't swim three and a half weeks ago. He clung to my arm in the pool and wouldn't let me show him how to float. He wouldn't dare go out in deep water even with his kick board and mommy at his side. Unless he could touch the bottom, this kid had no fun in the pool. I love to swim and always remember swimming as a kid. Growing up at the lake I had plenty of experience in the water. I wanted Aiden to love the water too, more so to be safe in the water. So, my mom has a friend. Her name is Pam Housman and she rocks. She was talking to me one day about ISR, an organization that has a commitment to prevent childhood drowning. The commitment to reach the next child before he or she reaches the water alone is honored daily in everything they do. They teach one-on-one survival swim lessons for ten minutes a day 5 times a week. Pam is so passionate about it and I love that. While checking it out, I went to her home where she provides lessons and watched these little kids in the water with her. Some of the babies were as young as 9 months old. My second day observing this little 12 month old BABY was put into the water with Pam fully clothed. She had tennis shoes, a jacket with hoodie and jeans on. This little baby was put into a situation where she needed to survive and she did. She turned to her back and floated in the water letting out little whimpers of 'help me.' She was completely relaxed. I couldn't believe it. She trusted Pam so much, after witnessing that I signed Aiden up. Being there and seeing the little baby float was emotional. There was something so incredible about it. The parents were so proud and I was amazed. The thought of a child falling in the water and not knowing instinctively to turn to their back is so scary. Originally, when I went to observe, my fear was not of Aiden drowning, although it's a possibility for anyone who cannot swim or float. I just simply wanted him to learn to swim and lessons we tried in the past were not efficient, and didn't work. So, two weeks later Aiden started his lessons. I told him it was okay to be nervous but that he needed to listen to his teacher. He was so awesome and I was shocked by his quick progress. Pam asked me the first day if I had expected what I was watching and my answer was no. Absolutely did I not expect him to be calm in the water and swimming by day 3. Day three he was swimming and then turning to float on his back to rest. The very first day she taught him to open his eyes under water and to look for and grab her hand or the bar she has in her pool. It took him 3 weeks to get to a level of satisfaction on her part. His 13th day he dressed in jeans, a jacket and tennis shoes for his 'test day.' He did great; he was a lot heavier but managed to keep a good float while in the water. (Obviously with younger children there may be some crying at first and also a few more weeks of lessons. I believe it typically takes 5 weeks.)
While at swim lessons daily my eyes were opened to the reality of drownings and how quick it can happen and how often they happen and how we can help prevent them from happening. In the three weeks time Aiden was in lessons there was one drowning and one near drowning in Tucson that Pam was aware of. I also met a mom of an almost four year old and an 18 month old. The almost four year old boy Christian was a near drowning when he was 11 months old and now struggles so much. View his blog at www.christiansjourney.org. While talking to Christian’s mom she was expressing her love for the ISR program where her little girl takes lessons. She said 'If they are crying, then they aren't drowning.’ Coming from a mom who has experienced every mother’s worst nightmare her comment really made an impact on me. This is truly a great program and so worth what it takes as a mom to watch on the sideline and the little kiddos that are learning and working hard in the water.
I am so grateful for the ISR program and Pam. I now have complete confidence in Aiden's ability to 'survive' in the water and have some fun too.
If you are interested and/or if you have a pool in your backyard or family members yard don't hesitate to put your children in these lessons. Check out www.infantswim.com for more details.
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| His last day celebrating with a huge jump into the pool. |
