That's probably not the correct way to word that but....Here is the story. Hannah for as long as I can remember becomes traumatized easily. Example: last summer we were at the ocean and a big wave took Hannah out. From that day on and for the rest of the summer she would not even step foot on a beach and refused to swim in the wave pool at the local six flags park.A few weeks ago Hannah started acting scared of swimming she is usually a fish and LOVES to swim.I am trying to pin point what happened and so far am not sure. It may have been nothing huge but something scared her. Now she will not go in a pool and acts terrified of the water. It's to the point that we mention going swimming and she is crying and saying 'no, stay home".Today it was about 95 degree so we did go to a local river. It took her about fourty five minutes to even put a toe in the water and she finally did go in up to her knees but no further.I don't want to force her but it is getting rediculous. I am trying to gently show her it's ok and today was a good start. At her summer scool program they do trips to the beach, the last time Hannah refused and flipped out so she stayed behind with an aide. I was not real happy about that and asked them to take her next time but not force her to swim.I don't know if I am approaching this the right way. I don't want to make it worse by forcing her into it but at the same time I feel like if she would just try again she would remember how much she likes it. What would you do? Do your kids get freaked out as easily?

I think what you are doing is perfect, easing her into it, like at the river. Maybe get a little wading pool in the back yard so she can splash around and maybe play with the hose so she can see for herself that water is fun and she doesn't have to be scared.

Angela has the a memory like a steel trap. She forgets NOTHING and NOBODY! If she has a bad experience somewhere, you can bet I will hear about it the next time we go there....even if its 2 years later.

They other day she saw an Airedale on Animal planet. "Like Erica" she said. I had now clue who Erica was. I asked her who erica is....."Mike, Gradon, Jared".

OMG..."Erica" was an airedale that belonged to a guy I dated 5 years ago! She was only 5 years old. Like I said, she forgets nothing.

Angela's fear reactions are often out of proportion to what she experienced, but they are HER fears, and I have to remember that. I think you're doing the right thing, just ease her into the situation. But with Angela, sometimes I just have to grab her and drag her into the situation or she'll never get past it. Once I do she's fine, but I really have to weight the options when I do, and it's my last resort.

victoria fears nothing, and no one, the only time shes everbeen scared was when the werewolf fought sirius on harry potter! and i mean it really scared her, i was really suprised its the only time shes ever acted scared of anything

Hannah update: She went with the school to a lake and after playing with her aide at the edge of the lake just got over it and went into the water and swam like a fish. I guess she just had to work through this issue on her own. thank goodness because it has been really hot here lately and I was getting sick of sitting on the edge of the water with her! So this issue has been resolved but I am sure it's just a matter of time before she picks something else to have an issue with ! Thanks everyone!

this past summer...stepped right off the bottom step and didnt think about her arm floaties......well once i realized that she was under i jumped in and got her.....she wouldnt go back in the rest of the summer.........clawed at me even if I tried to hang her on my feet off the edge....I prayyyyyyyyy that she gets over it by next summer.....it was sooo awesome...arm floaties...ring.....independence....MOM independence lololol