I began my teaching career when I was 15 years old, passed the Red Cross lifeguard tests, and was hired to teach swimming at our local Y. I taught children and on one occasion had adult students. My parents had insisted I learn to swim at an early age and I'm thankful they did.
My children learned to swim about the same time they learned to walk. Were they enthusiastic about swimming? No. Did I have to leave the pool when our Michael, who every time he was supposed to take a breath while doing freestyle, chose instead to issue forth a blood-curdling scream? And did I ignore Robyn when at three, she tried to convince the instructor that she simply wasn't ready? Of course I did. But I also know that close to 1400 children die each year from drowning. Add to this the impairments suffered from the effects of near-drowning accidents.
