WSET.com - ABC13Learning To Swim by Pattie Martin

I love summer. The warm (ok, hot) temperatures, the long days and the smell of sunscreen. I also love going to the pool. Growing up in Texas, on a hot summer day, you either stayed inside next to the air conditioner or headed to a local pool. That's why I was excited to I discover out my son loves the pool. Even as a toddler he had no fear about putting his head under water. As he got older he still loved jumping in, but always made sure he could touch the bottom. He never ventured anywhere near the deep end.

This year that's all changed. He's getting a little braver, and I'm getting a little more nervous. The other day he wanted to see how deep he could go before the water was over his head. Time to take action!

We actually put Pierce in swim lessons last year. They went fine, but he still couldn't have gotten himself out if he fell in somewhere too deep. I'm not sure why I haven't been more vigilant about making sure he's a strong swimmer. Maybe it's living in a city where there aren't as many pools as there were where I grew up. I started swim lessons when I was 3 years old.

Finally Pierce is now in swim lessons at the Y. They're going great. The instructors are amazing. They're incredibly patient with a group of kids who really just want to splash around. Still, they're making progress. After just two sessions they all seem very comfortable floating on their backs and putting their faces into the water.

I hope you got the chance to see Lauren Compton's special reports on learning to swim. Lauren actually took lessons for the first time, just for her series! I'm so proud of her. That's tough putting yourself out there. She says she could now get herself out of a tricky situation in the water.

Unfortunately, we have far too many stories on people who drown. If you're reading this and don't know how to swim, check around for lessons. The YMCA offers them year-round and you don't have to be a member. Even after you've learned, you may not become a pool or beach bum, but at least you'll have the skills to stay safe....and that's what counts.