MEGAN MERIT

My ISR Story:

My ISR story began in May of 2017. I had recently purchased a small “fixer upper” farmhouse in Spring Grove, IL. The property had more than what I was looking for. It was in a nice neighborhood, great school district, had a small horse barn and even an in-ground pool in the backyard! It felt like a dream come true in many ways, but when you have a toddler who hasn’t yet learned to swim, having a pool is more of a lingering potential nightmare. As soon as the snow began to melt, I began thinking about the pool opening process and my stomach was in knots of worry. What should have brought me visions of family fun time brought me sleepless nights instead. I thought, “How can I keep her safe at all times? She’s basically a ninja who climbs walls!” Google and fate brought me to ISR. My closest instructor was an hour away. I remember wondering if I could commit to driving 2 hours every night for 6-8 weeks and how it seemed like a lot of effort for a ten minute swim lesson. I wondered if she would really even be able to recall the skills she was taught. I was a doubter, but desperate to ease my mama heart’s need to take action to protect my child.  My daughter, Mirabelle, was not quick to learn the skills, yet we stayed the course. Eventually, she floated all on her own. I cried tears of relief during that lesson and have done so again many times since. ISR instructors are not joking when they say, “skills before thrills.” She’s now a mermaid in the pool (so she believes). I have been a firm believer and a walking, talking advocate for the program ever since. My son, Henry, has now been through the program as well. With honesty and pride I can say that “enrolling my children in ISR lessons has been one of the best things I have done for them as a mother.” Now that I’m training to become an instructor I know that this is the best thing I have ever done for myself and so many other mothers.