Please see these survival stories & testimonials from Ms. Gretchen's swim parents.
waterlillys@gmail.com
date Mon, Aug 2, 2010 at 8:02 PM
subject RE: montage
mailed-by hotmail.com
Gretchen,
That is great thank you! I've been singing your praises to all my friends and have handed out some of your cards so hopefully you will get some new students out of it. Max is doing really great in the pool everyone is totally impressed. We make him swim-float-swim everytime we get in the pool and show us that he can get to the steps and get out but then he just kind of plays swimming back and forth to us, splashing on the steps, etc...
On Sat, Jul 24, 2010 at 9:27 AM, caroline wrote:
Hi Gretchen,
I just wanted to let you know how GREAT of a job you done with Taylor. She is building her confindence more and more. She enjoys the water and the outdoors so much.
Thank you very much
Caroline
10/27/09
I wanted to pass along a story to thank Ms. Gretchen for all she has done with training my son Parker (2yrs old).
Yesterday I experienced the unimaginable. I live on the river in Jacksonville Fl. I was cleaning fish not 10 feet away from Parker when I heard a big splash. Parker fell off the bulkhead. I immediately ran over and jumped in the water after him. He was face up floating just like Ms. Gretchen trained him. The water was very dark (tanic) and the only thing I could see was his face calmly breathing above water. He was wearing jeans, long sleeve shirt and shoes. These classes taught him to naturally and calmly survive in stressful situations ie falling off a bulkhead. Even though I was right there, there’s no telling what could have happened if he didn’t know how to swim/survive. If you live near water…pool…retention pond…..etc…these lessons are a must.
I have shared this story and Ms. Gretchen’s contact info to all my friends that have children.
God Bless,
Terry
Erin R.
Both of my boys took ISR lessons from Ms. Gretchen. They were 2 and 1 when they started and she was so kind and patient with them. They can both swim all by themselves now. They are now 4 and 2 and people always stop me at the pool and ask how they know how to swim so young. I tell them ISR and Ms. Gretchen! I think every child should learn this important skill. You won’t believe it until you see it. It is AMAZING!
January 19, 2010 at 1:58am
8/13/2009
I was trying to find swim lessons for my son. I searched the internet and located a private teacher that is located in Fleming Island. When I contacted her via email, she responded immediately and discussed the importance of teaching young children to swim and to survive if they fell in the water. She knew her business very well. Her contact is extremely quick and she was very responsive to all of my questions. The classes are held at her house and we attended the first class a couple of weeks ago. Several other moms and dads were there. There is all lot of diverse backgrounds involved with their children there. She showed no favoritism to one over the other. As my son continued with her sessions he started to be a bit more aggressive with her and she did very well to redirect his attention without any intervention by me. I emailed her when I got home and discussed with her about his actions that day and apologized for them. She explained very clearly that she will handle those situations while in the pool and for me not to mention them then or when I got home, that it was between instructor and student. She was very clear and to the point when it came to instructing me on how to handle myself as well. I respect her and her education enough to allow her to do her job. She communicates very well with the students as well as the parents. I appreciate her ability to identify any problems with the child or parent for that matter and will speak up about it. She has very good eye contact with the parent and child and a loving nature about herself. Overall, my experience with this instructor has been very good. She has excellent customer service skills, great eye contact, committed to her profession, and has the customers interest in mind at all times. As she works she is very specific in what she asks the children and parents to do, she does not engage in small talk. I applaud her for her work and believe in what she does in helping to save young children’s lives and also giving the child the confidence to accomplish something for his or her self.-Wendy
May 6, 2010 "Your program was the best thing that I did for her". ~Renee
From: Greenwood, Chasity L.
Sent: Wednesday, December 09, 2009 1:21 PM
To: 'Ms. Gretchen'
Hello. This is Chasity (Zachary’s Mom)
I did also want to share something with you.
We were at Mom’s pool this summer and my oldest son (8) brought a friend with him who was not familiar with Zach’s routine in the pool. So needless to say, he wasn’t paying attention and let his float go right over Zach. This caused Zach to get stuck under the float and he had to figure out how to get back up from the bottom. Panic mom watched as Zachary used his techniques you taught him to swim back to the top. He was in shock and a bit freaked when he got finished but he was able to save himself. So Thank you very much. It is amazing how quick little things like this happen and I was lucky to be there watching but I can’t imagine if I had stepped inside for a quick second and he did not have those skills.
C. Greenwood
8/09/2009
We are talking about swimming lessons anytime the subject comes up with parents. I can sleep at night again without those terrible nightmares and I know my baby is safe should he get himself in trouble as children sometimes will very quickly. His float is his survival skill he relies on most…he will mostly swim on his back..and he can get anywhere safely that way. He will occasionally flip and swim on his belly, then go back to his back…but he seems most comfortable with his back for now. My husband said we could keep some brochures at the office if you have more brochures or cards. We have A LOT of agents there during the second Tuesday of the month when they have their monthly meeting…that would be the best time to be certain we have a good supply. With us and the Tyson’s as walking, talking billboards for the program…we will be reminded to talk about it even more if you have a little brochure display at the front desk. Maybe we can save a few more babies. We will definitely be coming back to you with our little girl. We are so thankful for what you have been able to do with Stanley. Please have any parents interested in the program but wanting references contact me. I will be happy to talk to them about our experience and how it has changed our family.
Warm Regards to You and Yours!
Elise and Stan Bishop
7/ /2009
I want to thank you for taking the pictures today. There were some great shots. I can't wait to share them.
I also want to thank you again for everything you did for Trenton and for showing everyone what to do with him in the water. I will be singing your praises to anyone who will listen. It has been a pleasure getting to know you.
Thanks again,
Gayle
7/13/2009
Thank you for the lovely pictures. They are great!
Miachel is still swim float swimming, and I’m still telling everyone about Waterlilly Swim School.
Have a great summer and thank you again for your excellent teaching instructions.
-Vicki
5/3/2009
I'm sooo impressed with your lessons. My husband can't believe that Harry was floating on his back today. He is so excited. I taught swim lessons for 10 years. It was such a waste. People would pay $40 for 7/8 group lessons for their 3 year old who wouldn't even put his/her face in the water, or barely get in the water. It was such a waste. I wish I had been trained ISR. It would have been so fun. We did the "ready set go" submerging with the babies, but after they got that down, there was nothing... ISR is great!!
-Carla
5/18/2009
You will be happy to know that we took Hayden out in the boat yesterday. He was playing on the river bank and twice slipped in the shallow water. Both times he immediately went into his float. One time, Shawn left him in his float and he started SINGING!!!
-Nicole
4/15/2009
It only takes a second......
After moving around the past 11 years to fulfill different sets of orders for the Navy we were finally able to move to our retirement home here in Fleming Island, FL. One last detail to finish up, my husband was sent to Qatar for an IA job for a few months so I arrived here to settle in to our dream home. The house has a lovely covered lanai with a swimming pool and I couldn't wait to get moved in and start using it. After only being in the house for a week or so I was in the office with my then 2-year-old daughter beside me to check on email...I turned around and she was no longer standing next to me. I walked to the bottom of the stairs and yelled to her older brother have you seen your sister and he replied "No". I then started walking toward my bedroom and looked out the doors to the swimming pool and saw her at the bottom of the pool. I ran to the pool and jumped in and grabbed her and when I pulled her out she was conscious and coughing water. I immediately took her to the ER and they examined her and said she was fine and I went home thinking I had truly been given a miracle by being right behind her when I found her. It was a matter of a few seconds that I lost track....
About a week later I was shopping and saw a business decal on a van for, I believe it said, "Can your child survive in the water?" and I thought to myself, NO! I mentally put the website in my head but upon returning to the parking lot after shopping there was a woman getting in the van and I asked her if she was the teacher and she said no but gave me all the info I needed to get in contact with Gretchen.
As soon as I arrived home I called her and did the registration and started my daughter within a week or so. Yes, it does take 5X a week for a 10 minute lesson, but it is the one of the best things you can do for your child. My daughter was swimming by about the third or fourth week at 2 years of age and I just took her back for a 2 week refresher and she is happily floating in the pool.
I highly recommend parents giving their children the opportunity to attend this school. I stand by it 100 percent and everyone who sees my daughter swimming is amazed.
Proud parent of ISR graduate!
9/ /2008
I am writing to let you know that Sarah Sophia fell into a pool last week and safely got herself out!!! We never thought she would actually need her survival skill training, as we consider ourselves to be very vigilant and cautious parents. We don’t own a pool. We were initially interested in ISR so that our daughter would be independent in the water and we could feel safe being further than an arm’s length away. We are only near pools or lakes with the intent purpose and sole focus of swimming (or so we thought). Last week we went to our neighbor’s house for a birthday party. They have a pool. Later in the day, after many guests had gone home, I was bouncing in the Moonbounce with my daughter. My daughter suddenly left the Moonbounce. When I realized she was gone I immediately climbed out.
My husband and a few men were on the back porch and saw a little boy drop an empty plastic “treat” bag into the pool. They told the boy to stay away from the pool and directed him toward the house. My husband then saw Sarah Sophia quickly walk from the Moonbounce to the pool to try to get the bag. He told the host “Don’t worry. This is what she trained for.” before walking quickly toward the pool. Sarah Sophia reached in for the bag and then tried to right herself, but lost her balance and fell in.
My daughter had seen the boy drop the bag in the pool from inside the Moonbounce. She quickly disappeared in order to help him retrieve it. By the time I climbed out, she had fallen in the pool and was swimming toward the edge. It was so surreal. My first thought was “What is she doing swimming in the pool with all of her clothes on?” I never panicked because I knew she could get out safely. She had reached the edge and was climbing out (with the treat bag in her hand) by the time I reached her.
The host and guests at the party were amazed not only by the fact that she was able to safely get herself out, but also by how calm and focused she was throughout the ordeal. Sarah Sophia did not cry until she was safely at the pool’s edge. She knew exactly what she needed to do and got herself to safety before reacting emotionally.
Sarah Sophia was able to get herself out quickly and safely. Nobody in the family panicked. When people hear this story, some seem to respond as if it was not a big deal.
I shudder to think how this story would have played out had it happened in May rather than September.
Gretchen, we can never thank you enough for the gift of independence, confidence and security you have given our daughter. We never expected Sarah Sophia to actually need her survival training.
Though "Thank You" seems so inappropriate, I am writing to thank you for teaching Sarah Sophia these life-saving skills. Thank you for all of your hard work and for your dedication to your students. I have seen first hand how devoted you are to your students and their families. I have heard numerous stories involving your graduates and their successes in similar situations. Gretchen, you really are a lifesaver!!! Thank you.
Sincerely,
Silvia
9/3/2008
I wanted to let you know about a recent situation, my niece (who is 21 yrs old) and Morgan were in the Ocean last week jumping the waves.
Well, a big wave hit my niece and swept Morgan out of her arms. After my niece screamed (and I was running into the ocean), she got to Morgan as she was surfacing in her float. My niece and I were shaking with fear and Morgan was totally fine.
Everyone that sees her swim are amazed! Thanks to you!
One more thing, every time we drive down CR220 towards US17, Morgan says "I want to see Miss Gretchen". You had made such an impression with her, she still asks about you.
Thanks again!
Jennifer
4/27/2008
I don't know if you remember Elise or not--I know you probably have a lot of students!!
Elise finished learning the roll-to-float in August (she was not approved to actually swim because she wasn't walking yet and had a heart defect). I was on bed rest and having complications with my next pregnancy, so she was unable to do the refresher lessons.
Yesterday, however, she got to put her skills to use. We were at my parents' house, and she had gone outside to "help" them with some flowers. My dad had let her lay on her stomach and splash her hands in the pool. When she was finished, she didn't realize how close she was to the steps, and walked right into the pool!! They said she immediately closed her mouth, rolled over onto her back, and began floating back to the surface.
She is the first (and hopefully last) of their 8 grandchildren to fall into the pool. I'm so thankful you taught her what to do!!
-Andrea
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