I started Water Babies as a parent with my eldest son Nathan, 13 years ago. I will be completely honest, I didn't do it because of all the benefits for the baby, I did it because two of my friends had signed up and I didn't want to miss out on an opportunity for some social interaction for me!
From our first lesson with Water Babies I was hooked...
I loved seeing Nathan progress. I loved the confidence that it brought us both in terms of water safety. I loved that it was our half an hour each week. No phones ringing, no distractions - just us, being led by the most knowledgeable, calm and relaxed teacher.
I loved it so much that I put my second baby on the waiting list before he was born. I knew that if there was one thing I was going to do with him - it was going to be Water Babies!
![](https://assets-us-01.kc-usercontent.com:443/496a7f02-b681-0069-311b-f98123d5bcf5/019e14d5-5321-4262-b1a6-e5e69984f5e6/rebecca-succamore-meet-a-few-of-our-teachers-%284%29.jpg)
Daniel came along and he didn't settle in the water as quickly as Nathan had. He wasn't ready for the first opportunity we had to do a photo shoot. He cried through a fair portion of the lessons during our first term. But having seen how much it had benefited Nathan, I didn't give up and during the second term something clicked. Despite the wobbly start, Daniel turned into an amazing little swimmer, swimming lengths of the pool unaided at just 3 years old.
It was while Daniel was swimming with Water Babies that I had a crazy little idea that I would like to work for Water Babies. I had fallen in love with it, I loved the company, I loved the attention for detail the lessons had, I loved everything about it.
![](https://assets-us-01.kc-usercontent.com:443/496a7f02-b681-0069-311b-f98123d5bcf5/fbdb01d1-d22e-4b64-8065-e02a9a5e0895/rebecca-succamore-meet-a-few-of-our-teachers-%282%29.jpg)
I already had a career as a nurse. I was steadily climbing the career ladder and was Deputy Sister on an oncology ward but I was determined I could do both jobs alongside each other. And so I did!
It’s now over 7 years since I was in Devon on my week long Water Babies residential course, having already qualified as a Level One and Level Two Swimming Teacher locally.
The training involved was intense, hard work, exhausting, but 100% worth it!
![](https://assets-us-01.kc-usercontent.com:443/496a7f02-b681-0069-311b-f98123d5bcf5/555785e6-290e-406e-8503-cc3b629430bf/rebecca-succamore-meet-a-few-of-our-teachers-%283%29.jpg)
For 2 years I happily worked as a nurse during the week and taught Water Babies classes at weekends. The moment I see a child swim independently on the surface of the water is the most rewarding part of the job. No matter how many children I see do this, it never gets old and the feeling of pride is immense.
My Water Babies teacher journey didn’t end after 2 years – it got even more exciting! The current franchisee for the area had decided it was time to move on and was selling the business.
So I had another crazy little idea that I could buy it...
I love a challenge and I loved everything about Water Babies so the thought of having it as a full time job was so tempting. So a few phonecalls to Head Office, and another road trip down to Devon to see Paul, the Head Honcho, and before I knew it I was handing in my notice at the hospital and starting the process of training to become a Franchisee.
Teaching as a franchisee is a little different as I often jump in to classes I don’t regularly teach to cover sickness. Whenever I go out to a pool to teach it reminds me why I fell in love with Water Babies. Seeing so many children learning to swim and be safe around water, and enjoying every minute of it is the reason I get up in the mornings!