I am writing this review with a heavy heart. I genuinely did not intend to tarnish this business, and I expressed to "Ms. Julie" over the phone that I had no desire to do so. However, something about our final interaction didn't sit right with me. While she is clearly gifted with children and I initially had high hopes, the lack of professional boundaries and the lapse in safety became impossible to ignore.
The Experience vs. The Environment
First Impressions: During the FaceTime tour, Ms. Julie was amazing with my son; her ability to engage kids is undeniable. Even though she wore a "Trump Won" shirt--which was alarming--I dismissed it because my son was happy. I felt that if she could get him to swim, I would be happy.
Hygiene Issues: While she provides an indoor observation area, it had a strong, unpleasant odor. The bathroom was the breaking point--the inside of the toilet was visibly black and unhygienic. Despite signs asking parents to use Lysol wipes, basic maintenance was missing.
False Advertising: I was hesitant about a 6:30 PM session due to the temperature and the sun going down. I was explicitly told by the answering service that there were indoor and outdoor pool options. This was a flat-out lie. On Day 2 at 5:00 PM, the water was cold, my son and I were shivering, yet my concerns were dismissed by her simply showing me on her phone the temperature was 89 degrees. I do not know if salt water pools are different, but it was not warm.
Professionalism & Safety Concerns
The most alarming part of this experience was the total lack of focus on my child:
Day 1 Conflict & Venting: After the first lesson, I overheard Ms. Julie arguing with her teenage son. She then proceeded to vent to me about it. Which was okay, but later I realized it set a tone that her personal life was the priority over the business interaction.
Safety Negligence (Day 2): I got into the pool to help. Instead of focusing on my son, Ms. Julie spent the lesson venting about her personal drama with her teenage son again. She became so distracted by her own talking that she failed to ensure my son's head stayed out of the water while assisting him to float. A swimming lesson is for the child's safety, not a therapy session for the instructor.
Inappropriate Comments: She told me her son "wanted to live with me" because he wants to live in a place with "no rules or boundaries." She later tried to clean it up by saying she told him that didn't exist anywhere, but it was a bizarre, uncomfortable comment to make to a client.
Religious & Political Overtones
Unsolicited Religious Practice: After venting about her son, she insisted on praying with me. I "uncomfortably obliged" the first time. However, on Day 2, when I explicitly said "No, I don't pray," she responded with "Well, can I pray?" and did it anyway. It felt dismissive of my own boundaries.
Political Branding: Wearing "Trump Won," "Trump 2024," and "I Stand with Charlie Kirk" apparel/jewelry in a professional youth business created an environment that felt more like a statement than a service.
Final Assessment
I tried to give her the benefit of the doubt and even spoke with Cedricka, who was great and tried to mitigate the situation. I initially decided to cancel, but after a thoughtful and apologetic email from Ms. Julie, I was actually inclined to finish the last 3 days based on that message, despite my husband's reservations.
However, when we finally spoke on the phone, her tone was flat and dry. It didn't match the warmth or sincerity of her email at all. Although she apologized, the tone was not the same. That disconnect made me realize the email was likely a formality to avoid a bad review rather than a genuine realization of her behavior.
The Bottom Line: Ms. Julie is a gifted teacher. If you are looking for a skilled swimmer who is great with kids, she has the talent. However, if you value professional boundaries, a clean environment, and an instructor whose focus remains 100% on your child's safety rather than her personal life, I cannot recommend this program. A swimming lesson should be for the child's development, not a therapy session for the instructor. read more