Keri Morrison is a mum dividing public opinion right now after sharing a video of her 6 month old baby struggling to stay afloat in a swimming pool on Facebook.
The video does make uncomfortable viewing, there's no doubt about it, but after losing her son Jake in a tragic drowning accident in 2013 when he was just two, Keri said she doesn't want her now 13-month-old daughter Josie to have to go through the same ordeal. Far from being cruel she says was teaching her daughter to "self rescue."
You can watch the video by clicking below
Oh I don't quite know what to make of this one. I think it tugs at the heart strings of most parents to see a child, especially one so young, in distress but at the same time Keri and her family have obviously been through a horrendous ordeal, one that words can't even describe and that most parents could simply not comprehend.
The video captioned "So hard to watch but every kid should learn this young," has had very mixed responses. Some viewers have applauded Keri for her parenting skills, while others felt she'd perhaps taken things a step too far.
Keri herself defended her Facebook post by saying "To me, I'm protecting her and that is what a mother is supposed to do protect her. I feel like I failed my son and I'm not going to fail my daughters." And I think that sentiment is one that will strike a chord with mothers everywhere.
you lost your son in an awful accident, why force this baby to do this?! You cannot make her pay for what happened, by all means teach her to swim! Allowing her to go head over in water, on the steps, recording it while she clearly is not comfortable is not kind or responsible behaviour. Things like this make me so angry, she easily could have hurt herself and as you rightly point out its your job to keep her safe. No one would find it acceptable to do this to an older child, its down right disgusting that a baby has been TRICKED to fall head first in the water.
Oh get a grip. It's uncomfortable to watch but she's hardly stressed or in any danger!! It's amazing she turned onto her back. I made my son learn to lay back and do starfish shape if ever he felt scared in water or if he ever fell in but he had to understand that to do it. A little one wouldnt understand so if she can do it naturally that's a good thing!! You can all spout that your child wouldn't be unsupervised near water etc but sadly accidents happen. They could drown in a bucket, or a puddle. Learning to swim is as important as reading & writing!!