Awesome article! This is something that all parents need to consider! I am very happy that you put it on here and intend to see that my grandchildren benefit from it!
Thank you again for caring for families.

Although your blog was informative and I am sure helpful to many parents, I highly disrespect your wording in the last sentence that this was a SENSELESS tragedy. Who are you to call it senseless? I certainly hope that this grieving family along with an older brother who will forever remember his 7th birthday as one in which he tried in vain to save his little brother did not read this article. Think how you might feel if your son took a defenseless driving course and then was killed by a drunk driver going down the wrong side of the divided highway at night. I also disrespect the insensitivity of THE OKLAHOMAN for printing this blog as Best of the Blogs.

By the way I am not related to this family although I did learn only later that I did know of the mother.

I was the student Instructor that Ms. Smith graciously entrusted her precious son to train through ISR. After spending five nights a week for six weeks with her, I can tell you first-hand that in no way is Ms. Smith insensitive or uncaring. The fact of the matter is is that drowning is a preventable tragedy and yet it is the #1 cause of death in children under the age of 5 in the state of Oklahoma, along with seventeen other states in this country. ISR is new to this state, and there are currently only six ISR Instructors in Oklahoma City and one in Tulsa. We are doing everything we can to educate this state and get as many precious children skilled to prevent one more child from drowning – that is the goal of ISR. While difficult to read – from your example, I know that first hand as well as four members of my Family were killed by a drunk driver which was extensively covered by the media – if it reaches more Families and prevents another child from drowning, I have to believe that precious boy’s Family would believe it is worth it. I only wish we would have gotten our information to them, along with so many others who’ve suffered this tragedy.

I have 2 girls who went through ISR training last February, a 4 yr old & a 1yr old at the time. We have tried various types of swim lessons in the past which seemed to be helpful, but did not have the dramatic effect that ISR had for our girls. Our summer was dramatically different after they underwent this type of instruction. Filled with fun, confidence & peace of mind. It is different from any other type of swim lessons because the children actually learn to float. It is this basic skill that becomes a life-saving skill. This program is fairly new to the area & needs more coverage as far as educating the public about these lessons.

I have learned the vital importance of spreading the word about this crucial skill these past 2 months as it feels as though lightning has struck twice in a small community of tight-knit families. I think mothers who watch their children grow & acquire this skill in this way somehow feel compelled, almost burdened to share with others about it, not to bring guilt or shame upon anyone who has not had the opportunity to undergo it. The change is very dramatic and mothers want to share that with others they care about & anyone who will listen for that matter.

Because as I have learned to be true, this tragedy of drowning can happen in any household! No matter how very diligent or loving a family, life is full of hazards. I think all mothers agree we want the very best for our children & would do whatever possible to protect them, but no mother can keep our child out of harm’s way 24 hrs a day, 7 days a week for the rest of their lives. Not to be insensitive to anyone who has experienced such a tragedy, because it is just that, a terrible tragedy to lose a young child. Just as it would be to lose a loved one to a drunk-driving incident. But knowing recent families suffering from this specific type of grief, walking that road with them, I believe we would all want any child 6mos-6yrs old to be able to swim, a life-saving skill.

I hope that the recent tragedies will bring with them an awareness of options parents have to help their children. We cannot live in fear. We as parents can only try to continually educate ourselves in how to raise our children & act as we feel best to nurture them & guide them. ISR lessons are a wonderful way to teach children to swim, to potentially save their lives. We must teach a healthy respect for water. Children are fascinated by water. Whether it is simply in a bathtub, a creek, or large swimming pool, or lake, we are drawn to get into it. To play, to laugh, to splash & have fun.

My heart goes out to the families turned upside down with grief from the recent drownings. Many prayers have been said for their hearts to heal & hope to be renewed. That they may feel love & peace which passes all understanding. That they might feel their community of friends & loved ones lifting them up. That their eyes could become fixed upon our Creator, Author, & Perfecter of our faith in the darkest times of their life’s journey.

Thanks for sharing this article! Parents need to make sure they ALWAYS keep an eye on their little ones!

[...] in October, I wrote a post about the importance of water safety for infants and toddlers.  (Click here to read that post.)  In wake of another drowning, I want to reiterate the importance of taking the best safety [...]

211211 891469Spot up for this write-up, I in fact feel this exceptional internet site requirements a good deal far more consideration. I