rwbeagles-so guess who learned to swim

 That's wonderful, Gina!  The more you do it, the more confident you will become!

wow! you SHOULD be proud! that is NOT a small accomplishment! i couldnt ever get my mom to get over her fear! way to go!!

 That's awesome, good job!  I know what you mean about the face in the water, I hate that part.  When I do swim, I look silly because my head is bobbing up above the water.  I just hate putting it in the water, I start to panic.  Good on ya! 

 Great job!

 Way to go Gina!  Floating is the most important part.  If you can float, you're golden.  If you fell out of a boat in the middle of the lake, you could float and swim intermittently until you got to shore.  Floating can be very relaxing once you get comfortable in the water.

Alright Gina!  WTG!!!!

Candace...I liked the back floating...your face is OUT of the water LOL. I have to work on the elementary backstroke/frog that I do because it seems to bring a wake/wave back up and over my face which is far from pleasant. Maybe I am stroking too hard? Anyhow I did enjoy just floating on my back...tho doing it knowing there's nothing under me but water and more water is probably a looooong way off LOL!

Thanks all. I am 34 years old and I never, ever thought I would learn. I actually enjoyed the feel of being in the water for the most part...it's just a huge deal for me...and I appreciate the congrats big time...means a lot coming from you guys

Way to go Gina!  That is an awesome fear to conquer...or at least begin to conquer.  Keep working at it.  You might even look into taking some swimming lessons yourself.  You will be amazed once you do become more comfortable how wonderful and relaxing it feels to be in the water.  Sunday is always my chore day and when I am done with chores I always reward myself with a dip in the pool!  There is nothing more refreshing to me!

Gina YOU ROCK!!  (gently -- don't disturb the waves tho!!)

Isn't it amazing what we will do to make our kids proud of us and conquer OUR fears to help encourage them??  Lady, you are the stuff MY personal heros are made of -- that was a big huge mega thing for you, and I think that's awesome.

note -- I HATE the backstroke because I hate schlepping water in my own face.  Esther Williams I ain't!! (ever hear of her?? big movie star millions of years ago who used to make movies being glamourous in the water!! LOL)

BUT -- whilst on your back with your arms out at your sides, pull them both straight down to your sides and the "pull a zipper up your thighs to your underarms and straighten your arms back out at your sides!!  Over and over again.  You can "kick" the same way -- keep your heels together and pull them up towards your butt and then spread your legs out and then heels back together -- pull your heels 'up'  the same time you're "zipping up" your sides. 

NO water in your face -- do it slow as you want, and it's just a nice, relaxing, low-key, low splash way to get anywhere (and actually it's pretty good exercise). 

I'm the same way and I've been swimming since I was two but I HATE water in my face.  So even when I do a classic breast stroke I don't submerge my face.  I can do it if I have to for a class, but it's NOT how I locomote in the water and trust me, I'm as fast as most anyone. 

You go girl.  Now, learn to relax and be at ease.  But be very very proud of yourself -- I AM!!!

Very brave of you! Congratulations

 That is wonderful!!! Go you!

 I can sympathize with your fear of the water a bit, because I had a near drowning experience as a 2 year-old: my nana took my lifejacket off me on a dock and I fell in and under a docked boat. My grandfather dove in to get me and pull me off the bottom.

I will always hate having my face underwater, and I think the incident when I was 2 is the reason. It's take all my brainpower not to panic.

That's awesome, Gina! Kudos to you for stepping outside of your box and conquering a fear! That's a big deal!!

Yay!  Well done you

You know, being ABLE to do that stuff is going to mean you're less scared.  You have some control in the water now.  Scary stuff won't happen because.... you can get to the surface and get to the side.