Jersey City, NJ
by JAYNE FREEMAN
January 03, 2018
When my younger daughter was just 3 years old, we went on a brief vacation to my friend’s parents’ home in Florida. In their courtyard was a small swimming pool and as soon as Evie spied it she made a beeline for it – jumping in with all her clothes on and with no experience whatsoever swimming without a “floatie.” The moment unfolded in slow motion as I dropped my bags and walked straight into the pool, also fully dressed. I remember a split second watching as she enthusiastically kept her face out of the water by paddling with all her might under the surface. She looked like a happy puppy who had found a glorious swimming hole on a hot summer day. In less than 20 seconds I had her in my arms and pulled her to the edge, where she laughed and seemed no worse for wear. I turned to my friend and said, “That’s it. Swimming lessons as SOON as we get back home.”
It was January and seemed like as good a time as any to teach my kids (Evie 3 and Bebe 5) how to swim. There were very few options in Jersey City at that time, so we went to our local pool for group lessons. They weren’t ideal, and the pool was a little chilly, but they got the job done – and slowly I lost my fear of a water accident being a threat to my children’s safety. I’m the kind of mom who doesn’t appear to worry unduly on the surface, yet for years – long before I had children – I would collect stories of accidents that I never wanted to endure. It was almost as if I read enough about it, if I was prepared for the worst, I could avoid that incident from occurring. I had read plenty of drowning stories in my preparatory years before parenting knowing it is the number one cause of death for children under the age of 4. For me, swim lessons and the resulting comfort-level in water provided a much-needed sense of parental relief. My daughters were strong swimmers and would improve as they grew.
We can’t protect our children from every danger in the world – rationally we know that. But when it comes to a life-long skill like swimming, it’s unthinkable to deny your child the advantage, both for safety and sport, of learning how to swim. How many times had I marveled at adults who would say, “Oh, I never learned to swim.” To me that would be like never learning to ride a bike – just another normal part of childhood development. Except that knowing how to swim could save your life, whereas riding a bike might not be so critical to survival.
And then there’s the sporty side of swimming. When my girls were a little older they started swimming on a team and did really well in competitions. Evie, of course, was a natural since she had perfected a modified doggy-paddle when she was just three years old. Later she won a race with her excellent back stroke and has remained the kind of kid you can never get out of the pool or ocean. By the time she was 7 she leaped off the edge of a ravine wall in the Adirondacks while my heart was in my throat. But I knew she was going to be just fine with her combination of swim-skills, confidence, and a dash of recklessness that would make any parent’s heart race. Nurturing a child’s competitive nature, team spirit, and physical drive are also key reasons why swim lessons are extremely important. Many of her friends went on to competitively swim, some earning ribbons, awards and scholarships as they matured into high school and college. Though that wasn’t the path my girls traveled I was thrilled to know that they knew what to do in a pool, ocean, or when jumping off a rock ledge on a steamy summer afternoon–and for that I can rest easy at night.
About the writer:
Jayne Freeman (also known around town as “Mamarama”) is a certified childbirth educator, breastfeeding counselor and postpartum doula. She has lived in Jersey City for 17 years and raised two daughters here. Jayne has taught pregnant teens in the Jersey City public schools and for numerous pediatric practices in addition to her private practice. She was asked by MTV to give Snookie & JWoww their childbirth Ed. classes and has successfully petitioned the PATH for better seating and announcements for pregnant commuters (though she’s still pushing for improvements.) As a postpartum doula Jayne works with families as they transition into parenthood by helping them understand their baby, get more sleep and avoid postpartum mood disorders. website: www.mamarama.tv
Ready to learn more or get started? Call British Swim School Hudson Waterfront today at (201) 676-3630 or click here to find the right stroke development class and time for you. Hurry, space is limited as classes only hold 6 students!
