[Fitness/Safety] uSwim Free online swim lessons

This summer we have been in a pool almost every day.  I have two kids who are water safe but two who are not.  Prior to summer starting I decided to offer a few swim lessons to some friends in an effort to get my own kids water safe as well.  I've never really put my older kids in swim lessons because I just taught them along the way and they eventually learned to swim.  My lifeguard job as a teenager required that I teach swim lessons during the summer so besides being a swimmer myself, I had a few extra resources to draw from to teach my own kids.

As I was refreshing some of my knowledge and planning out my swim lessons this time around, I came across this great resource called uSwim.com for parents to use to teach their kids how to swim. It covers all the basics and gives clear explanation and  supportive video.  It doesn't give you ideas for games and songs to incorporate with the little oneself make it more fun, but it teaches you step by step the stages for beginning swimmers, both infants/toddlers and school age children.  You can even print out the lesson plan of your choice.  

I think this is an amazing resource.  Of course, if you're not comfortable in the water yourself or if your child refuses to take lessons from you (like my 4 year old) then I would highly recommend swim lessons with a professional or a trusted friend.  My daughter was only capable of taking direction from "a swim teacher" (not her own mother), so went that route while I gave most of her preschool friends  individual lessons.  But we were all better off that way!

Check out uSwim.com for a great summer water safety resource. 

2 years later...

This blog went into a deep sleep almost two years ago.  The saying is true; there is a time and a season for everything.  Blogging wasn't in season for me the last two years, though I do wish I had stayed with it a little bit.  There's a part of me that feels the strong need to get things documented in my life; I just need to get thoughts, ideas, memories, and experiences down on paper.  There's no time to write with a paper and pen anymore.  Sometimes I get a few words of gratitude down in my paper journal, but I think my typing skills need to contribute to more digital journaling.

Last year we had our 4th child.  He maxed out completed our family.  He arrived one day after my hubby's birthday in April and already he's a booming toddler.  My life now consist of 4 kids...and chocolate.  The 4 kids are always there (especially now during the summer).  The chocolate usually shows up by the afternoon, mostly in the form of handfuls of chocolate chips.  But I keep going.  And of course, my best friend and hubby is there to support me and keep me sane.

It's hard to even sum up the last two years.  I suppose it consisted mostly of being pregnant and having a baby.  There, that was easy.  Just this year, however, I jumped back on a health and fitness kick and managed to get back in really great shape.  I started by signing up for a local boot camp class Groupon.  Then, a crossfit Groupon.  Loved it.  A friend talked me into training for a half marathon.  So, I started running.  (I've never been a runner...hated running, but somehow it grew on me - it was convenient).  The first couple months went great, then I acquired a pelvic stress fracture from overuse/hormones.  That was in April.  Running - and almost all exercise stopped for a while.  I could hardly walk for a couple weeks.  Doc tried to put me on crutches, but that didn't quite work with three kids and a baby who just barely started walking.  Fast forward 3 months and I finally got an MRI and diagnoses.  No running for a while still, but I can swim and bike, which I also enjoy so now it's about recovery and easing back into the fitness world.  I lost my drive for a while because I went from working out every day to barely walking the next.  But this trial will only make me stronger.  For now, I'm refocusing on my priorities and trying to keep my life in some sort of balance.  

Where to from here?  I guess we'll find out.  Life is one day at a time around here, but I know there are plenty of "tools" I need to recognize, use, and share along the way.  Here's to a new beginning!