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Hop along to conversations with the Kaz sisters, Ashley and Angela. You'll find a mix of silly, serious and everything in between. 🦘
This is sisters ashley and angela.
And this is sister Rooy Welcome back. We're
picking up where we left off from part one of our
interview with Becky Bond, pediatric swim
instructor and owner of Safety First Pediaquatics.
Angela kicks us off with her experience on the
virtual course. Teach your child to swim in 10
days. And go.
I'll start with Emma. So she is three years old
and had done the full course with you. And then I
think we did one maintenance, um, session. I
honestly can't remember, but I think you're right.
and then we had another winter since. And maybe
another year. A year in a winter since. And then
we got our pool heated, too. That also helps.
Yes, that does help.
So we're swimming at 85 degree water temperature.
And, Emma, for the first two lessons, I had to do
Mama Bear. Like, you are doing this, and you're
gonna do great. Like, you know, a little bit of
forceful. Like, you got this. I'm confident in
you. You're gonna do this.
I mean, I forced her too. And I was like, do you
want me to do this? And will she hate me? And you
were like, whatever you want to do.
Yeah, I was like.
Cause I trusted what she has seen with you. So I'm
like, you got. You know this. I trust my sister.
With Emma. As a three year old, it's just, um,
again, so different because Ace loves the water.
And so I know of, like, the blowing of the face,
especially with the babies, but I had to do it to
Emma and, like, it worked.
It does.
But I'm just like, I really got a blow in her
face, but I did it. I only did, like three times
with her. But, she probably has
progressed six days ago.
Yes. But she would, like, kick her legs forward to
try to hug you.
Yeah.
She was, like, trying to get you
as she's coming to you.
Yes, she was under the water.
Yes. I would make her. I would make her head go
under. And her whole body was just tensed. Just
trying to come and wrap her whole body around me.
Oh, my God.
And I see fear in her eyes.
I know it's sad.
She's never had any bad trauma with any water. I
know she passed the course with you.
Yeah.
And, so, yeah, I only made her do it three times.
And she did really great. I gave her really good
positive reinforcement. Both you and Jake were out
of the pool and out of sight, which I also Think
helped.
Yeah.
M. For me, at least, but. Cause as soon as I said,
do you want to show your dad how good you're
doing? It was, like, even more tense. I can't even
imagine trying to do this underwater. You're
making it, uh, harder.
No.
Yeah.
So, uh, that was our experience six days ago. Kind
of honestly wish I recorded it a little bit.
Really?
Oh, my gosh. You didn't record it.
I know, I know.
We needed that. It's okay.
There was just. We had so much going on with four
kids. I bet I bet
Yeah, I know.
Yeah, It's a lot.
I know. We'll get you, though, with the positive
of what is currently.
Okay.
Yes.
I need to know because. So it was really only
after two. Two days. I think for Emma that it was
like, okay, she knows that mom is there. And then
she started to get confident. I was telling her,
these are your swim lessons. We are doing this.
And you get cookies after. And now today, Becky,
like, she is wanting to just jump to me.
That's so amazing.
And same thing to her dad. She has swam twice a
day now because she has to get back in the pool
after napping and swim with dad when he comes
home. Like, she is obsessed now.
So now I'm like, oh, gosh, how
do I explain sometimes when we can't go swimming.
Oh, no. Oh, no.
But now, Ace, anytime we do go to your house,
wants to swim, and he'd be like, come on, Emma,
let's swim. And she's like, eh, I know.
But now you're gonna see. She is gonna want to.
I know. Yesterday I went to. To pick Ace up from
school, and Justin had said that she was having a
meltdown because you were like, you cannot get in
the pool when we get home.
This is great. That's true.
It was.
I absolutely loved this.
It was because of that. I forgot.
So, you know, it was a complete 180 in 6 days
completely.
That's so awesome.
Yeah.
That's six days from a girl who knew how to swim
and would have just been doing maintenance, trying
to refresh her skills. And now she's like, I don't
know what you would say about this, but she's,
like, holding her breath so well. She'll swim and
not the length of the pool, the long way, because
mine is like a bean shape.
Yeah.
She goes from the step to our wall and back, but
she'll hold her breath. And my hands are there and
she's just still like, there, not kicking yet.
Because she's just waiting and wanting to.
She doesn't want to come up from air.
Yeah, she just wants to, like, see how long she
can hold her breath.
Yes, they do. They.
I'm like, oh, my gosh.
Yeah, okay. Cool. That's so great.
Uh, that's day six for.
And she's kicking good.
And she kicks so well. I told her yesterday. I
told Jake yesterday because, um, she was getting
in and I hadn't worked with her yet on kicks, but,
I knew she was a little not horizontal like you
want. And, I was like, jake, she needs to make
sure that she is going horizontal. And this is a
funny comment from Jake. He's like, I would
actually think it would be the opposite. Like, she
can go up and get her air. I was like, no, it's
just not efficient.
No. You're the swim instructor.
teaching him. I know he hasn't read your course
stuff yet, but, I was like, jake, I just want to
remind you, like, this is the tip from our main
swim instructor that we're, getting from the
course
Ace is also just kind of dumb and likes to play in
the pool too. So he's not always just swim lesson
oriented.
Yeah.
but he'll, you know, do the thing where he just
keeps his head above water but let his feet sink.
And I'm like, stop doing this because you are,
making yourself more tired.
Yeah.
And then he started to yell, help. And I was like,
no, no.
That is so funny you say that. It's one of me and
Ariana's 10 water safety rules, is to not yell
help unless you really need.
I said, you do not do this in front of Emma and
Zachary, who are learning, and if you do it again,
you're gonna get out. And I said, if you ever did
this with Becky, you know she would say no.
Yes.
Yes. Good.
Absolutely not.
Good for you. You've gotta be strict with the
rules, with the water safety.
I mean, I, know you say floating should be last
resort, so I guess maybe you'll Yell at me right
now. But I do tell him, like, if he does need to
get a breath to float. To get his breath and then
go back to swimming with his head underwater.
If he needs it. If he needs it, then roll over.
I just tell him, like, you will swim better and
more efficient with your head underwater.
Yeah.
But this boy just wants to play.
Um, and he does love playing.
I got more dive toys for him.
He's so good.
Good, good.
All of Angela's toys that are all of Aces are all
from Aces.
And my kids weren't playing with them because they
weren't swim min But now we'll see how. I'm really
excited to see how Emma is with Ace and for you to
see the progress, because I'm like, I'm excited,
girl. And she's so happy. The biggest smile as
she's splashing in. She's like, yay.
Isn't it the greatest feeling?
Can't wait, because it's so much fear in her eyes.
I know when I made her go under.
I can't wait for you to see the happiness now. The
joy. Pure joy.
Okay, so how's the baby?
So now.
So Zachary, who is 15 months old, he is on day six
now, but Ashley saw him on day one. And this is. I
really hurriedly kind of went through some of your
coursework, but I saw all the videos I made.
Sure.
and the only thing I'm kicking myself is I was
like, dang, I should have swam him by himself. No
distractions. Whatever. Yeah.
Because we were all in the pool, but we had.
Justin and I were swimming. Sam. Jake. I don't
know where Emma.
Jake must have been.
Emma was just sitting on stuff. M. Because she
was. And then I think Ace was with Jake. Jake and
Emma were with Jake? Yeah, with Jake and Emma. Ace
and N. Things are, you know,
one of them, one of the ten names, pretty much.
People were in the pool with Zach.
So many more people than just Zach and mom.
Yeah.
It's hilarious. anyway. Anyway, so we swim him.
And he's upset. He's scared. Like, he. He just
hasn't been in the water as much. So I was
splashing and playing with him. But let me tell
you, Becky, it
was not Sam fuss. Like, he was not crying as hard
as Sam cries, really. Like, he was crying, but not
that bad. He would eventually stop.
Yeah, he did. He did. and I think, honestly, even
the next day, I don't think he cried. He. He gave
me, like, the sad face. Like, when we're doing
this again, like, wait, we're back. He's like,
yes, boy. We're doing this, and you're gonna do so
great. I love that. What I love are the hugs after
when he's so tired. And, like, also just like,
mom, he's so sweet, right? Yes. He's just like, he
gives already great hugs compared to even Emma, I
think, at his age. but, man, he leaned in heavy
and hard. But we are. He doesn't cry. He knows
that, like, this is the work we're gonna do. We're
gonna get into the pool. I wouldn't say he's,
like, happy. Definitely not jumping in like Emma.
Yeah.
he's still. I'm trying to work with him on having
the binky in his mouth to help him not swallow
water, because he still does. But he's not
interested in the binky at all.
But he likes the binky outside of the water.
Yes.
He loves.
I have a little boy right now that's. I cannot get
him to just keep the binky in his mouth while I'm
swimming him.
I keep, like, putting it back in there.
I'm m. Like, come on, just take it, buddy.
I know.
Loves the binky. If he doesn't have food in his
mouth, he's got the binky.
He's got the binky.
He does. Yeah. But he won't take it in the water
as much because that's the main thing. I feel like
he's swallowing water a little more than I want
him to. And, still trying to get the kicks. But
the other thing, and this is something I was like,
maybe I should set up a call with Becky. Um,
because he. What was it?
It.
Um, for a little plug for you for your virtual
course. If you do that. You have said that you can
set up a FaceTime or a call with you to discuss
certain things, too.
Yes.
And I actually did my first mom yesterday that I
worked her through it, and she actually. So she's
one of my old customers. She came to the house,
and I Said, hey, why don't you come over? I just
want to see how I'm gonna do coaching someone. I'm
not gonna get in and show you. And the first thing
she did, I
was like, oh, no.
Oh no, what is going on? And then I was like,
okay, okay, you're gonna do this. Let's get this
hand here. And sure enough, over time, I was able
to help her. And then she.
Oh, that's good.
Got it down. So it was great. She was on day
three.
Yeah.
Okay. So, um. she may have not been as coordinated
as most people, but I was happy to see how she did
it first. And then I was able to walk her through
it. And then she had a very successful outcome
through the 15 minutes that we were together or we
did the.
That's great.
I'm like, this is good. I can do this.
Yeah.
I can coach people through FaceTime.
You can.
I believe it.
Thank you.
Thanks for believing me.
I can be your hype woman
Okay, so what are you doing with him right now? So
he's not kicking very well and he's jumping in the
water,
not jumping in the water, not kicking as much. I'm
trying to do the drop ins, but. Oh, this is what I
remembered. Um, in my pool, I don't really
have a great wall.
You know, in regards to. You're saying every time
to swim to the wall. So we've always started at
the steps.
Okay.
Because it's the only way. Uh, anyway.
Yeah, her water wall ratio is big.
Yeah. Too big.
It's hard for Sam too. So I have to lead him to
the step.
Okay. So. But I was happy on day six. I saw. Okay,
you eventually do go to the steps. And I'm like,
okay, I've been kind. I've been pretty much doing
this. So that made me happy. Okay, good, good,
good. I don't want Becky to be mad. I didn't
really get into the wall wall. Cause like Ashley
said, it is, it's a bit of a, of a reach.
sometimes what I do, like, if the wall's too big,
I'll put the hose in the water and get it
up and get it higher.
If I don't have a little wall or I've. I've done
that before, like with parents when I've traveled
back in the day, I'd be like, hey, just like,
let's lift the. Get the pool water level higher
and we can.
Right.
If I have a smaller kid, usually the older kids,
like two and up are fine on the bigger wall.
Yeah. Okay.
But for that age, it's.
Yeah, Sam, it's hard for the bridge up there and
he's already small.
Yeah. Yeah, he is small. He's a. He's little.
He's my little baby. But yeah, yeah, it's like.
But when we took him to the resort, it was nice
because all the resort pools have like the, ledge
with the drains all around the pool.
Yeah, that's. I'm really excited. Jake and I are
about to take the kids on a family trip where we
know there's going to be swimming and pools. So
I'm like, okay. I can also practice at those lower
walls and super pumped to see how it all works
out. We'll be done with the 10 day course by then.
but I'm like, super pumped
Like go swimming. Keep swimming and be excited
about it. I know that makes a huge difference.
It does.
Yes. For you all to be in the pool.
I can't wait. But either way, basically day six,
working on kicks for the boy. Because he is. He's
still just very straight legged, like kind of.
Okay.
I still feel like he's a little bit nervous and I
don't know, I
don't think sometimes when they get nervous they
just kind of do this.
Yeah. Like starfish a little bit.
You, can put shoes on him. I don't know if you've
read that yet. I've seen a video on that yet.
I know you mentioned it in the last day, so I was
like, I'm gonna see how this day goes. But
tomorrow I might do shoes.
Yeah, do shoes. And then work on drop ins. And
then you drop them in and then you can kind of
like sometimes like wiggle their waist a little to
the.
Yeah, I'm definitely wiggling the waist, but he's
still not. He's like, um, just keep working it,
girl.
Keep working it.
We're gonna wiggle there.
I don't know if you've noticed with Sam because
it's unfortunately been a while since you swam
him. Since we are now moving him into maintenance
lessons and haven't gotten that spot yet. But he
like, when he kicks, he only does like one leg.
I feel like. Yes, I remember this now.
I'm like, you gotta do. You gotta do both legs.
Yes. And some kids will only kick one leg for a
little while, but at the. Until they figure it
out.
But at the resort when we took him I was doing it
in front of the lifeguards, and they're just. I
don't know if I was making them nervous or if they
liked it because they were just like. But I was.
You know, I was just doing less and less. I was,
like, channeling my inner Becky,
and I was like, hey, swim to the wall.
And then he'd get up there, I'd plant his hands,
I'd sit him on the wall. I'm like, yay. Positive
pickup. Uh, he was so fascinated by the
lifeguards. Like, what are they doing? Why are
they watching, looking at him, like, waving,
smiling waves.
That's so funny.
But, yeah, I just. I. Anytime. I just remember
specifically with Ace when he was younger, anytime
I took him to a pool, everybody had comments to
say that he was such a good swimmer. Not being in
floaties.
Yes.
I was like, yeah, he's a fish. It's also, if he
could breathe underwater, like, he'd be so happy.
I wouldn't be able to snorkel.
Mom, give him a snorkel.
Surprisingly, he hates goggles. He's very excited
that your pool won't hurt his eyes.
Now.
I. Yeah, we. Before we got the pool heater, we had
chlorinated pool, and it bothered Emma, too. So we
got goggles, and now it's salt water and heated.
So both kids. Emma hasn't even complained at all.
I know.
We're living the dream. It was one of the goals
that Jake and I, we were like, we gotta do this.
And now, um, I'm pumped that we can swim. Working
on Zach, and it's going great.
Yeah. So exciting.
I'm so excited.
Yeah.
Uh, it's really cool to just see the progress. And
I was really happy. And this is why, when we knew
we were going to talk with you for a podcast, I
was like, I gotta get in the pool and do this so
that I can share the experience, because I was
confident it was going to be positive, and I'm
happy to say it is.
Good, Good.
Happy to confirm it is
That's so exciting.
Yeah.
I actually thought of a question from what you
were saying earlier with parents. So with certain
parents, do you find that the more nervous parents
about their kids do you know, or. I don't even
know if he'd be privy to this information, but if
they are strong swimmers or if they're comfortable
in the water, like, do you see any correlation
with parents and their relationship with water,
with their kids and their relationship with water,
does that make sense? Yeah. I'm like, hold on.
I'M trying to make it make sense now. I do.
sometimes. Like for instance, this is one example
is I have, parents a lot of times tell their kids
that they can't jump in, in the deep end. And then
the parent, the kids get freaked out and panicked
about the deep end. But the fact of the matter is,
is the whole entire pool, it's a deep end to a
toddler. They can't stand anywhere. So why are you
stressing them out about the deep end when they
could just swim to the wall and get out there? Or
swim to the wall and get out over here? The only
thing is you can't touch there, you know, But I
mean, sometimes that's a parent who can't swim.
Okay.
Um, but I have parents who can swim that still act
like that. And it's that anxiety that comes off of
them they put onto their child and then their
child becomes anxious about that stuff. But that
doesn't always happen. Sometimes I have kids who
the parents know they can't swim and they start
their kids very early and it's just a no brainer
for them. They can't swim. So they want to make
sure that their kids can save themselves. And
they're great swimmers, you know, So I guess it
all depends.
Yeah. so I don't think we've touched on that for
our listeners. How early can you start swimming? A
child.
Yeah.
so you can start a child at six months, as long as
they're crawling. So you want to make sure their
motor skills are developed. however, my favorite
age to start them is eight to ten months. I just
feel like they adapt to the water better. If
you're doing the course and you're newer, I feel
like it's probably better to wait till 10 months
at least. just so you have more control. Because
the younger they are, I will say still it can be
awkward depending on the child. So as a whole, I
would say it's best for parents to wait till 10 to
12 months to get them started if they're, if
they're anxious to get them going. if anything, I
do have my water safety starts in the bath course,
which starts as soon as they're infants and they
can get them familiar with holding their breath,
safety measures to take, with water around their
house. I have a shower video in there to help them
get like, associated with water trickling over
their face.
Ace hates the shower. You love a bath, you love
the pool, why not the shower?
Yeah.
And I actually have a video in there. Too that
teaches like your first experience with your
little one in the water or going to the pool and
showing them how to get water in their ears with a
float. And then I do a video with reinforcing, a
proper float so that no one does it wrong. So that
does. They don't mess it up for the swim
instructor they might go to or
for their float course. So I had to reinforce
that.
So there's a lot of little stuff in there too. So
that kind of leads into the, the next course. Like
if, if you are anxious to get your kid water safe,
you know.
Yeah. I've actually, um, been learning a lot too
from your recent posts about, going to the ocean
and the beach. Like, I hate going to the beach.
I'd rather a pool.
I do want to really touch on this. Yes. I'm glad
you brought this up.
Ah. So it's just those types of things also I
don't think about because I'm not a beachgoer.
Even though I live in Florida, people, I don't
like the beach.
Sue me.
She's so weird now.
I don't.
She's crazy.
She really is.
I can't like who doesn't like the beach.
Although my husband doesn't like sand either.
It's sand mostly, I think. but like, also, if I
were to go on a boat on the ocean, I would get
seasick. It's just me, my.
Yeah, she's sensitive.
It's so bad. But yeah, I saw your recent post
about ocean and like high tide and stuff, and I
was just like, this is also just super good
information.
Yes, it's very good information. Um, so first off,
going back to my husband, not liking the beach. So
he used to surf, um, and he was actually pretty
decent at it. And he's a big fisherman and stuff.
So him not liking the beach to me is just, just
ridiculous. But that's hilarious when this
situation occurred. So what happened is I, think
it was. It was an air show that we went to, I
think was the weekend after Easter, but we went to
the beach. And if you're on the east coast of
Florida, our waters can be really, really rough.
So in Cocoa beach, this is where Kelly Slater grew
up surfing. If anyone knows who Kelly Slater is.
he's one of the best surfers in the world because
they're the, the ocean out there, it can get
crazy. so he, he had to learn in rough, rough
waters, you know? but anyways, we went to the
beach and I was like, geez, the beach, it just
looks angry today. So
I loved how you said that too. Like, I knew what
you meant.
Yeah.
Yes, like, it did. It just looked angry. So I went
down to the shoreline where the kids were and I
said. I just was straight up with them. And I
said, listen, guys, there could be rip currents
out there. The beach does not look like it's happy
today. Let's make sure we keep the water below our
knees. I would actually like it better if you just
don't even let it go much over halfway, you know,
from your ankle to your knee. And I said, And then
Cash, you know, didn't understand my 5 year old,
and he's an awful listener. Very defiant, too, so
just throw that out there. And I was like, listen,
buddy, it could take you away from mommy forever,
and I just don't ever want that to happen. Just
need you to really listen to mommy and make sure
you stay near the shoreline. And we're not going
to be doing boogie boarding much today like we
usually would. M. So they played in the sand and
they played with sand fleas, which are right on
the shoreline, so they didn't need to really go in
the water. But they listened, and I was very
strict with them about it. And I guess Tadd went
down there and he was like, asking them what they
were doing, why weren't they getting in the water?
And they were like, oh, mommy told us to not to
get in. He told me this, like, two days later. I'm
like, you didn't know that? I went and talked to
them about it because my mom was with me too, and
me and her were very crazy about it.
What do you mean?
But he grew up in Cocoa beach, so. He grew up
surfing out there. I don't think it really fazed
him as much. so anyway, so two days later, a
little girl gets sucked into a rip current a block
from where we were at. so she got sucked out. And
if you ever get sucked into a rip current, you
always swim parallel to shore and you float on
your back to rest. you don't ever, ever fight the
water because you can't beat it. Even some of the
strongest athletes in the world have not been able
to fight rip currents. And the thing is, you want
to get out past the break of the waves so where
you can actually swim. and rest. You can't really
rest where the wave
break is, where they're crashing into you.
Yeah. So, so she was out There mom went out to try
to save her, and then another bystander went out
to try to save her. The girl survived, but the
other two people passed. So it's just such an
awful story. they didn't make it. And I was just
like, tad, like, what would we do? Like, what if
someone's out there drowning? Like, what would we
do? Like, I wouldn't be able to sit back, you
know? And then I'm like, well, I'm sending you
because you know how to swim in that stuff. And
then I was like, for real? Yeah, but for real,
like, what would we do? And then I was like, oh,
my gosh, I'm gonna always have a boogie board at
the beach, because you can strap a boogie board
strapped to your ankle and run out there and then
use it for flotation out there.
Yeah.
So, um. So you just strap it. I would always say
call for help if you feel the need to go save
somebody. Strap it to your ankle, go out there,
save them, don't panic. And then you guys both
float on the boogie board until help arrives. So
would be my. I mean, that's what I was thinking
because, you know, as a mom, you're like, yeah,
what would I do in a situation like this? You
always think of the worst case.
I know we talk about intrusive thoughts.
You know, it's just like, oh, my gosh.
But, it is things to be aware of when you do come
to. To Florida and the East Coast.
Are the rip currents.
Is Cocoa beach one of the ones that has lifeguards
or.
No, they do at the pier but not, not where this
happens. The pier. Yeah, the pier. And I think
coconut switch is another. There's a couple
different places where. Where they have them, but.
Okay. Not up and down.
Yeah, I know.
I've never go.
Yeah. Go somewhere where there's a lifeguard.
Yeah. I rarely do Cocoa beach. If I do do the
beach.
Yeah.
Because When I was dating Justin, we were more in
the Melbourne area.
Okay. Yeah.
So we did Melbourne beaches. And I know some of
them have lifeguards and some of them do not.
Yeah. I haven't been to enough beaches yet to know
my beaches.
Hey, but look at those goals you have this year. I
know.
Isn't that one of the goals?
And it's to go. To go 12 times again.
Oh, my gosh.
I love the beach, though. They get to play in the
sand.
Yes. It's also because my husband loves the beach,
and I'M like, we're so close to the beach now. We
gotta go. I know.
And you know what they say it's like really
supposed to help your mindset. like five minutes a
day at the beach. They say it's supposed to like
make you so much more positive and stuff.
I need more positivity.
Like, I don't know.
I'm trying to do that too. I want to go to the
beach more.
But yeah, the cleaning myself off of with sand and
then also cleaning the babies off. That does not
sound appealing to me.
It doesn't matter. It's plan to have a dirty car.
Okay.
After lower expectations of hygiene.
For the fun. Yes.
Yes. For the memories.
For the memories.
No, but speaking of memories, I'm just going to
interject one memory that always comes up when I
think of rip currents and whatnot is you and me
swimming. I don't remember if it was California or
where, but I'm waiting for you
to jog my memory of which story this is going to
be.
But there was just one memory in my mind that is
always. We're out in the water and we have
drifted. Oh, yeah. And I'm like, dang, we're far.
And I remember thinking, I'm not panicking. I'm
not gonna say anything to my sister so she doesn't
panic because we are farther than I want to be.
I have two beach memories with you
and I just remember thinking, we sister have to
start swimming back. Let's just start.
Let's just start. We're going too far.
Uh, we somehow made it back. But yeah, we were. It
was far.
had to be teenagers.
Yeah.
Like, and we had drifted from mom and dad. I do
remember. I feel like it was Florida. It was
probably Daytona.
Yeah. I mean one of the coasts.
It was either San Diego or Daytona.
We were in the ocean.
Yeah. It was definitely not Hawaii. When we went
to Hawaii, that water was cold.
Was it?
Yes. Yeah. It wasn't Hawaii. No.
But yeah, I do remember being really like, we
couldn't spot mom and dad anymore. I think we
were. We were pretty far.
Too far.
Just down the line. We weren't far out. We were
just down the shore. But yeah, that one. Then I
also just remember up in Long Island.
What happened to Long Island? Now you have to jog
my memory. I just nervous.
I mean, it's just. Angela and I are now with our
15 month olds. I formula fed Sam and she has
breastfed both her babies. And so I've just seen
my sister and that is fine. It is natural. Yes.
And so in Long island in like, We were both
college, We went into the ocean and it was angry
that day. And Angela is shorter than me and this
wave just came on top of her, like full on whole
body just like took her out. And we're cracking
up. M. Like she did and her bathing
suit just flies off.
And, uh, there were people on this beach, so I had
to be like, sister, cover yourself,
you're falling out.
Was probably the first time that I maybe had seen
your boobs. Now definitely wasn't the last time
because
that's hilarious. That was, um.
You don't remember getting taken out by this wave?
There's been a few that have taken me out.
There's been a few.
But to have made it me made me go commando or just
the top.
I think it was just the top.
I don't remember. But like, hilarious.
It wasn't even like off. It was just like, you
know, it's like a bikini. So it was just like
shifted everywhere on your body. Like. I mean, you
turned toward me and fixed it right away. It was
whatever. It's not like it became untied. It was
just funny.
This wave just.
The wave ate you.
Spit me back out.
Oh my God.
Disheveled.
Disheveled.
Oh, uh.
Man, that one got the cheeks.
That one got the cheeks. My cheeks hurt so bad
when you
can't stop smiling and laughing.
We laugh. We laugh a lot here.
I know so many. They're going to be sore tomorrow.
I know. Oh my gosh.
but yes. I mean, this kind of brings me. We should
have probably opened with this. So it's a little
backwards, but what got you into wanting to swim?
Yeah, cuz when you brought up your husband and
surfing, I was like, oh,
yeah, wait, we got to ask you that. Cuz we said
we've been lifeguards. Like, tell us about your
background and how you even ended up here. Yeah.
Okay. So I used to be a water skier and then I
wakeboarded in college. And I was very into all
that stuff. And then I got pregnant with my little
girl. I think it was 27. And I was like, what am I
gonna do with my life? Like I'm serving and I'm
just living this wakeboard lifestyle. Like life is
just grand and I've gotta figure out a real
career. I gotta figure out how to, you know, make
ends meet for my little one. so my mom's best
friend actually introduced me to a Lady who was
teaching swim. Float. Swim. And, so I started
researching all these different programs, and I
found, I think the best program there is, which is
Pedia Swim. It is like the hybrid version of isr,
in my opinion. So it teaches the swimming and the
floating part of survival swim.
What is isr?
ISR is Infant Swimming Resource. So really they
just teach a child how to flip over and float for
safety. They usually don't have toys. I think a
lot of the older instructors have adapted toys
into the program. but I believe with the
instructors, I don't know what if you know what
you're gonna get. So some of these older
instructors have introduced the swimming portion
Into the program. And I don't think some have,
because I've had a lot of children have come to me
at 3 years old, and parents will be like, they
only know how to float. so with us, we teach
swimming and floating from the very beginning.
Yeah.
so I found that program, and, right after I had my
little girl, I started training two months later.
So she was two months when I started my training.
And then I opened my business in 2016, and then it
just took off, and it was crazy busy, and it was
like I was helping all these kids swim. And the
next thing you know, I hired Ms. A, and she's been
with me since, I think 2018 or 2019. And then she
talked me into opening the facility because we
kept getting rained out. Then we opened the
facility, and then it's kind of just been, you
know, history really, ever since it's taken off.
So. But now, um, that, you know, the facility
chapter closed, and now we're doing online, and
we're currently in the works of building a swim
facility as well.
So much so there's just a lot.
Yeah, that's kind of how it all evolved.
How do you balance everything? We don't have to
get into, like, owning a business and the trials
with that. But how do you own a business, have
five kids? and, like, do you. Do you have time to
yourself?
No. This is why I can't come play bunco. I'm like,
oh, my gosh, I need to go watch Ariana do
gymnastics for an hour tonight.
I can't do it. Do you have support? Yeah.
So I will say, Tad, my husband, is incredible
partner. Like, he. He helps We 50, 50. A lot of
things, you know, He'll cook, he'll do laundry,
he'll do all types of stuff, whatever he needs to
do to make sure we can continue going forward, uh,
without going insane, you know. and he's helped a
lot extra now with me being very involved in
building this course. so I haven't gotten this
passionate about, something since I opened my
business. which I've always been obviously
passionate about it forever. But I just saw this
vision and when I see a vision, I go all in and
there's no stopping me.
You got the spark reignited spark.
So I've had to just figure it out. So I've also
been getting up now at 4:30 in the morning so that
I can have two hours to myself to focus on things
and focus on.
Can't relate
She's me.
Are you me?
But I gotta focus on like I
have sad to say, sometimes. I'm going to bed at
4:30.
Yeah. Are you freaking serious, dude? What?
I've gotten a lot better.
Oh my gosh.
She has gotten better. But.
She has gotten better. But it has happened and it
was bad.
Yeah, she's had some.
Oh my gosh. That is bad. How do you do that with
children?
Well, they sleep in too.
Yeah, they.
Oh my gosh. She had shifted her kids to be to her
schedule.
With Ace now in school, I am waking up at 8.
I know. I'm not gonna lie. I'm pretty proud of
you. You have brought Sam to me early on multiple
occasions in the last few weeks.
Thank you.
I think this is gonna be a life changing moment
that Ace is going
to school for you.
It is. There's so many. I know.
It's so many positives.
I know. It is good for me as well and my body and
my clock or whatever. so I am going. The latest I
have gone to bed in the last month, I think was
1:30.
What?
But it's typically midnight.
I'm sleeping by you know, 10:30 somewhere.
No, 10:30, I was like getting my second wind.
10:30 is the latest.
But I am doing better and going to bed by
midnight. I'm trying to.
Yeah, by midnight she is doing better. I've been
like, at 11, if I am still awake, I'm like, go to
bed.
Yes, me too. Me too.
Instead of like go work out, you're like, go to
bed. Yes. Not a workout partner. It's like a
accountability for going to sleep. Going to bed.
Sleep is crucial.
I know.
So crucial. Anyway, she's doing great.
She's doing better.
She's doing great.
We are in full support of her. but glad that your
husband is your partner in crime. Um, just. We
have to ask because we are on the Sister Rooy
podcast and she is my sister Rooy. Is there a
Sister Rooy in your life?
So I do have a sister. She's um. Oh, geez.
She's older. I'm not going to mention her, but
she's like 13 years older than me. But, she's
actually a nurse practitioner she used to work in
oncology and she's done that for so many years.
She actually focused on patients, um, with
leukemia and lymphoma. I think it's very similar.
Something like that, uh, heavy stuff.
Regardless.
Yeah, so, yeah, so it's was a crazy experience for
her and she was very, very good at it. But I think
she got to the point where she was ready to see
positive, more positive outcomes. So now she has a
company called Evolve Health and Wellness and,
they focus on hormone replacement and they do
Botox and they do different types of skin
rejuvenation and they have facials there and all
types of good stuff to make people feel better and
and be better. So. Yeah, so she's.
She's so she's my go to.
Yes, she's my go to. Yeah.
That's awesome. Yeah, we love to hear that. It's,
a true sister by a blood sister.
Yes.
Yes.
Yeah, she's the leader of the pack. I'm the baby
of four. Four, so.
Oh, I'm the baby of four.
Are you really?
Yes, I am there.
You can relate.
Yeah.
Not so much on the bedtime.
Not so much on the bedtime.
That's fine.
That's fine.
Yeah.
But, is there anything on the horizon? So you
mentioned that there's.
Yeah.
You're working on the float.
The float course.
Yeah.
Whatever you want to call it.
Yeah. So, yeah, so I have a whole series of things
that I'll be doing. so it'll be like a step by
step process for everyone. starting with infancy.
Like once you have your baby, you can start your
baby to make them water safe. Starting in the
beginning with water safety starts in the bath
Then you can do the teach your child to swim in 10
days. And then I have the float course that I'm
working on after that. I'll be working on
assisting more with maintenance lessons for the
swim, float swim and going into stroke lessons.
which will be like what I do with Ace, the
alligator arms and big arms and introducing
backstroke and stuff like that.
and then fun diving things that he's obsessed with
Yes, I probably will Add that in. I actually have
a video, a short, simple one on YouTube, about
teaching your child to dive.
But I was impressed. He was diving at Angela's
deep end.
When Justin pushed him down, I was like, whoa,
he's diving now for things.
It is so funny having to shove your child's face
When I saw Justin, it feels weird, right?
Yes, yes. But he loves it.
He loves it.
He's like, I'm ready.
I know. Push me down as hard as you can.
Well, for the deep end, I, like, can't touch, so
I'm, like, getting hard.
Keep going.
And then I'm, like, shoving him. And he did great.
He came up and came to the wall.
I was impressed.
so. And then you also said that you are having
another facility being built.
Yes. And then I have that.
Um, all while managing your 13 month old. How old
is he?
Yes. Yeah. I'm like, is he 13? He's 13 month old.
Yeah.
And my 5 year old, he's actually the toughest. But
he's really fun. He's a lot of fun.
It's a fun age. But they, they are, uh, very
defiant.
Yes.
I feel like that's gonna be Zachary. Um, just with
how he listens and whatnot. I'm like, he doesn't
listen as well as Emma.
No, no, they don't. It is her second child.
And he climbs on everything.
Yeah, that's how Atlas is. He climbs on
everything. It's so scary.
Yeah. Yeah.
I'm like, dude, how are you up there?
Recent falls. And I'm like, oh, my gosh. But I
also keep telling you, don't climb on this chair.
Yeah.
Yeah. Oh, my goodness.
So as you sat down and we welcomed you onto our
lovely environment of our podcast, we gave you a
gift.
Okay.
Um, and so the puppy chow.
Yeah.
Is a specialty for Angela and I. We have perfected
it. It is a childhood, um, core memory.
So good memory.
So good memory.
And so, yes, our thoughts, because we
have seen that you have tried it already were
How was it?
Amazing. Amazing. Cash is gonna want all of it,
I'm sure when I get home.
And Ariana, I have sat and done, um, a sitting of
way too much on multiple occasions. And you know
what? My body is still happy about it.
So actually I'm like, let me get some more right
now. I haven't had dinner.
Yes.
so great
So it is a, um. It is our specialty of what we
make, and so we just figured we would honor you
with it.
Well, thank you.
And that's incredible.
Yeah.
And it is a staple.
True.
Sister Rooy picked me up.
Yeah.
Probably since I got the recipe in the first
grade. So we have perfected this since I got, uh,
this.
First grade.
First grade.
It's so good. I love it.
Yes. I will not give away all of the secrets, but
I'll tell you the secret after
that secret.
To keep it real good. We're that secret.
But I think our last question, to make sure that
all of our listeners can find you. Where? Where
can they find you?
On, um, Facebook, under Safety first pediaquatics.
Or Instagram, YouTube, TikTok.
Awesome.
So.
Well, like I said, we love you. We love your.
And what? Your work.
Your work. Yes.
It's important work. We think, so obviously we are
investing in you by putting our kids and investing
our kids in the programs.
Yes.
So we think it's a great program.
Yes.
And, just thank you for your time and coming on
with us and chatting.
Well, thank you for having me.
This has been so much fun. I didn't know if I
could talk
for two hours, but I'm like, oh,
my gosh, this is so much easier
than I told you.
We would just be like that. I know.
And having a good time.
Yes, always.
But you can find Angela and I, at our socials at
Sister Rooy And we will see you guys next time.
Bye.
Bye.
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