GPP: What made you decide to become a certified ISR Swim Instructor?
Suzanne: When our youngest was born, we decided I would stay home with him. After working at the hospital for 16 years, this was quite an adjustment. When the youngest was a baby, I signed him up for ISR lessons. After attending his lessons every day, I decided to become a certified infant swim instructor.
I absolutely love teaching small children how to survive in water if they were ever in an aquatic emergency. Becoming an instructor definitely filled a void I was having from not working in a hospital, and it was so fulfilling. There is a great balance of having my own purpose and still being there for my children when they get out of school. I’m so fortunate to have this flexibility.
Drowning is the number one cause of accidental death in children ages 1-4. Feels great to have a little piece in helping those statistics change. I do still keep up my Florida nursing license.
GPP: What does a “day in your life” look like now?
Suzanne: I’m so fortunate that my husband takes Alexander to school every day on his way to work. I usually will have a little quiet time before I start swim lessons. I’m lucky to have my office, our pool, in my backyard, and my work clothes are bathing suits. I love being outside!
I usually have lessons until around noon, then I do housework, prep dinner, grocery shop, or fit in a workout before school pick-up. I enjoy running/walking or working out at the local YMCA. I just ran my first Disney 10k in October.
Once I pick up Alexander from school, our afternoons are busy with swim practice or piano lessons. I try to cook dinner every night. Jason enjoys cooking way more than I do, so he often takes over cooking dinner when he gets home.
GPP: How would your kids describe you as a mom?
Suzanne: My kids would describe me as a planner, organized but also fun (I hope). I’m pretty laid back about most things. Dishes in the sink, not so much.
GPP: Do you feel “balance” is real or an ongoing negotiation?
Suzanne: Balance definitely is an ongoing negotiation. I think there are different stages of parenthood, and it’s so important for us to hold on to and enjoy each stage. There will be times in parenthood that we will get little to no “me time, but I feel in the end it all evens out. I do think it’s important to notice when you are getting burnt out and take a short break.
GPP: What’s something about motherhood that you wish people talked about more openly?
Suzanne: Every child is different, so parenting each of your own children may look a lot different. Parenting your children will also look different than how you were parented, how your friends parent, etc.
Keep the line of communication open with your kids; that is the best thing we can do.
Also, at some point, we all think we are doing an awful job in motherhood, but there is no handbook for parenting. Just do your best! Be there for them and listen to them and know your children love you no matter what.
GPP: Looking back, what would you tell your younger mom self?
Suzanne: Everything is figure-out-able. Enjoy the time with your children, no matter what stage or season you are at. When I was a young mom, older parents would always encourage me to cherish every moment. This advice went in one ear and out the other. Now that my youngest is 10 and in his last year of elementary school, I understand, and I am trying to savor every moment.
GPP: What’s the greatest joy of this stage?
Suzanne: All my kids have much more independence now than before. At one point in motherhood, I was driving three children to three different schools across town. My life is much simpler now, just one child I need to get to and from school, and one child with their after-school activities. Some days I do miss the hustle and bustle, but I do enjoy the calmer evenings.
Rapid Fire Questions
- Build Sandcastles or Snowmen? Sandcastles
- Pause time or Rewind? Rewind Time
- Sleep in and work late or rise early and get off early? Rise and get off early!
- Make-up or Skincare? Skincare
- One word to describe yourself. Resilient
Suzanne Straub has been married to her husband, Jason, for 12 years. Together they have four kids — Drake (29), Bailey (21), Carlyn (18), and Alexander (10). They also have a granddaughter, Charlotte (6). Jason is a local pediatrician at Pensacola Pediatrics, and Suzanne is a certified ISR (Infant Swimming Resource) Instructor.
The family loves to go to Disney and are planning a few trips for this year. They also love dogs, having four rescues of their own. They enjoy both training and playing with them. You can often find them hiking or watching football.
