The Swim Nazi

OK, under the recommendation of two fellow bloggers (Confessions and Follow the Leader), I have brought my kids to the woman affectionately referred to as the Swim Nazi.

It sounds a bit harsh . . . and it is . . . to a point. She is very loving . . . but very strict! Her very goal is to get your child to a point that they could get to the edge of a pool or dock if they were to fall in. She teaches them how to save their life! It's sink or swim, baby - LITERALLY!

I was told my sweet babies would be swimming within a week . . . I didn't believe it.

Faith fell into a pool when she was barely 3 years old, and ever since has been PETRIFIED of going under the water. ESPECIALLY without a life-jacket on. So, knowing her fear, and knowing her tremendous will, I brought her to the Swim Nazi thinking "good luck lady, but it'll be a miracle if Faith is voluntarily going under water."

Well . . . she's a miracle worker! She's tough, and she doesn't take no for an answer when it comes to going under . . . but it worked! Faith is was truly swimming by the second day (although SHE didn't believe it herself). By the end of the week she was doing awesome, but still not believing in herself. We ended up going back for a second week just to build her confidence. Day 1 included lots of screaming, clawing, crying, grasping etc. But, yesterday, she was jumping off the diving board, and the side of the pool and swimming all the way across - all by herself - without crying! Amazing! Even Bella is swimming in the deep end (which does make a mother's heart stop for a moment) although she still cries every time saying, "Me all done, me want my towel."

Thank you Swim Nazi! Now I don't fear how they'll react if they accidently fall in! I know they are able to make it to the side of a pool, or to the dock at the lake! What peace of mind! And it's so cool to see Faith's confidence get higher and higher! I want her to have fun swimming without the fear of going under. Now she has it.