https://www.safeswimisr.com/meet-coach-jamie daily 0.75 2024-12-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/607f73597b3fe234213a6d72/e800bf68-70b6-45c1-89a4-d750aa1c559e/website+safe+swim.jpg Meet Coach Jamie - My ISR Journey: My ISR Journey Long before I became an ISR Instructor, I was a swimmer… and eventually, an ISR parent myself. I grew up as a competitive swimmer and spent much of my childhood around lakes and open water. So, when I became a mom, I knew I wanted my daughter to learn more than simply how to swim. I wanted her to develop independence in the water and, most importantly, know what to do if she ever found herself in the water unexpectedly. While I was pregnant with my daughter, Adalynn (Addie), I started searching for a program that aligned with what I was looking for. That search led me to Infant Swimming Resource (ISR). When Addie was about 8 months old, we began our first session. And we committed. We drove more than 35 minutes each way for 10-minute lessons, five days a week, for six weeks. Friends and family thought we were a little crazy… and some days, I'm sure we did too! For nearly five weeks, Addie cried through her lessons. But little by little, I watched the pieces come together. Then one day, it clicked. She floated. I watched my baby independently find her float, trust her own buoyancy, and use the skills her instructor had patiently taught her. I still get emotional thinking about that moment. As a parent, there was something incredibly powerful about seeing my child accomplish a skill that could potentially save her life. It wasn't simply another childhood milestone. It gave me a sense of confidence and reassurance around the water that I hadn't experienced before. Our family continued with ISR, returning for additional sessions as Addie grew and her skills developed. And somewhere along the way, I had a realization: I need to be doing this. From Corporate Life to Poolside In 2020, like so many people, I started thinking differently about how I wanted to spend my time and what I wanted my work to mean. I had built a successful corporate career, but I kept coming back to ISR. I knew how it felt to be the parent sitting poolside. I knew what it was like to rearrange schedules, make the drive, listen to my baby cry, wonder whether we were doing the right thing… and then experience the incredible moment when all of that consistency came together. I wanted to give other families that same experience. So, I took a leap. I left my corporate career, traded my desk for a wetsuit, became a Certified ISR Instructor, and created Safe Swim, LLC. It remains one of the best decisions I've ever made. More Than Teaching a Child to Swim Today, I am a Certified ISR Instructor and Aquatic Behavioral Specialist, and I've had the privilege of working with thousands of children and their families. Every child who enters my pool is different. Some are fearless. Some are cautious. Some cry. Some arrive with previous swim experience, while others have never been in a pool without a parent. Children learn differently, respond differently, and progress at their own pace… and understanding the individual child in front of me is one of my favorite parts of what I do. My job isn't simply to teach a sequence of skills. It's to meet each child where they are and help them develop the skills, confidence, and independence they need in the water. And now, all these years after I first sat poolside watching my own baby learn to float, Addie is 8 years old and an incredibly strong, confident swimmer. I've experienced this program from both sides of the pool. I've been the nervous parent. I've made the early-morning drive. I've wondered whether the crying would stop. I've celebrated the tiny improvements that nobody else could see yet. And I've experienced that unforgettable moment when everything finally clicks. That perspective continues to shape not only the way I teach children, but the way I support the parents sitting on my pool deck, too. When I’m Not in the Pool… When I’m not teaching, I’m a wife, mom to Addie, animal lover, and equestrian. If I’m not poolside, there’s a pretty good chance you can find me at the barn with my horse, Ducky! Riding is one of my favorite things to do and one of the few places where I get to step away from the constant juggling that comes with being a mom and small business owner. But my passion for working with children and families doesn't stop when I leave the pool. My interest in understanding children, behavior, development, and the parent-child relationship has continued to grow throughout my career. That passion eventually led me to create Simply Maye, where I support parents and families through some of the challenges that happen outside of the water, too. Although Safe Swim and Simply Maye serve families in different ways, the heart behind them is the same: helping children feel capable, helping parents feel supported, and meeting families where they are. At Safe Swim, I have the privilege of helping children become safer, more confident, and more independent in the water. Through Simply Maye, I get to continue supporting children and their families on land, too. And somewhere in between, you'll probably find me cheering Addie on at Irish Dance, riding Ducky, loving on our dogs, or trying to remember where I left my diet coke. Welcome to Safe Swim Choosing someone to work one-on-one with your child… especially when you're trusting them to teach skills this important… is personal. I don't take that trust lightly. My goal is for every Safe Swim family to feel educated, supported, and confident throughout the process while giving each child individualized instruction based on their unique needs. Self-Rescue skills are one layer of a comprehensive approach to water safety, but they're an incredibly powerful layer to give your child. I'm grateful that my own journey with Addie eventually led me here, and I'm honored every time another family allows me to become a small part of theirs. I can't wait to meet you poolside! https://www.safeswimisr.com/layersofprotection daily 0.75 2021-05-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/607f73597b3fe234213a6d72/1620338221686-PPEN2V5CCKNLPXR8XTNP/Addie_Jamie.jpeg Layers Of Protection https://www.safeswimisr.com/lessons daily 0.75 2024-01-09 https://www.safeswimisr.com/about-isr daily 0.75 2021-05-06 https://www.safeswimisr.com/home-2 daily 0.75 2021-04-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5cdb0c28d86cc941784b980a/1557964844959-NT8QMZQFUM3CCSO6AFJ4/image-asset.jpeg Home - “I’m now debt-free and saving for a home because of your help. Thank you, Degraw!” – Clare A. https://www.safeswimisr.com/faqs-3 daily 0.75 2025-06-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/607f73597b3fe234213a6d72/1618967590014-2B4D44066S870JZJZ9ZE/Addie_Balloons.jpeg FAQs https://www.safeswimisr.com/contact-us daily 0.75 2023-05-16 https://www.safeswimisr.com/home-3 daily 1.0 2024-01-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/607f73597b3fe234213a6d72/1620338465774-MSKLF8LDPATS12U150JU/175596758_1239117703157373_3533000534041680561_n.jpeg Home - “ The number one risk to your healthy child's life is drowning. Parents need to have a plan in place that includes layers of protection for their children.” ⁣