The Swimming Whisperer

As many of you know, I have a horrible phobia of my kids drowning. I don't know where it came from but it has existed since my first child was born and hasn't ever gotten better. Many nights a week I am kept awake with pointless nightmares on the subject, so when we moved to Florida and had a pool in my yard, you could say I was a little psycho about rules and regulations. I had four non-swimmers and a pool. It was like someone had invented the situation on purpose as live therapy for me. Anyhow, swim lessons were a must this summer and we found a swim instructor who, although a little pricey, guaranteed my kids would be swimming by the end of their two week lessons. She warned me, knowing of my fear, that I might not want to watch the first couple of days. So it was THAT kind of swimming lessons. But I was ready for it and so were the kids. (Two weeks before the lessons started, Rockwell just started swimming on his own, doing dives, flips, etc. so he was freed from the lessons. The teacher would have taken London but my therapy needs to be in the form of baby steps...)

DAY 1
Now remember, neither of the two boys could swim, and Rhett would even get upset if you asked him to put his face in the water. So off we went. Drake and Rhett both cried most of the 1/2 hour of their first private lesson. But since they seemed to be under the water more than out, it appeared minimal. When their instructor, Lauren, felt they needed a little security and rest, she would hold them in a tight hug in the water and sing to them and talk calmly to them and then say, it's time to swim again, 1 2 3, and the kids would be under the water in a swimming motion again and again and again. I admit it wasn't as traumatizing as I thought it would be. I know and trust Lauren so I knew they would be fine... therapy... so I sat and watched through the window... therapy... as my children were compelled to learn how to swim. .. therapy. At the end of Drake's lesson, she let him blow some bubbles to calm him down, and that perked him right up. He ran over to me and cheered, "I love swimming lessons!" Appearenlty the lack of oxygen over the last 1/2 hour must have caused some sort of amnesia, for now. Rhett panicked a lot that first day as well, and really tried to get over his fear of putting his face in the water. I knew we had to get over this first before any swimming would take place.

Day 2

Drake and Rhett both were a little suspicious of swim lessons the second day but there was a lot less crying and a lot more learning. Lauren didn't let them give up, and made them do the work, but in a very loving and secure way. I was starting to think this was going to work.

DAY 3


Drake loves swimming! He told me after day 3 that he won't wear floaties anymore.

Who would have guessed just a couple of days earlier this child wouldn't get his head wet? Rhett also has decided I'm not allowed to put floaties on him ever again. He says, "Mom, I know how to swim now. Floaties are for babies." And they still have another week+ of lessons!

DAY 4

I wanted Brad to see what was happening so he came on Day 4 to see what they could do. He was so impressed, he got choked up with pride and amazement and wants everyone to come take lessons from Lauren so they can have the comfort of having their kids know how to swim too! He got so excited and emotional about it, he wants to do a story on her in the magazine so that everyone really will know about her ability. (I like to think of her as the Swimming Whisperer. Her schedule might fill up really quick next year.)

We are both so grateful to her for her work with our boys and my unofficial therapy. It is especially meaningful to me, because I know part of this is difficult for her since less than a year ago her little nephew who wasn't quite 2 yet, drowned in this pool at her home. She's a great example to me of someone who has strength after a tragedy and then helps other people succeed so perhaps the same tragedy won't enter their lives.