Yesterday afternoon E.B. and I attended a pool party for a freind’s daughter’s birthday. I was hesitant to take E.B. at all. He can be very hard to manage sometimes and Cracked Daddy wasn’t home. I just knew if I took him I would be chasing him everywhere and scared to death because this is a BIG pool.
However, I decided I was prepared to at least give it a try and if things got crazy, we could always just go home. So we left at 6 PM for the pool party with our towels and a beach bag filled to the brim with the necessities like extra Little Swimmers, sippy cups and everything but the kitchen sink.
E.B. was super excited when he figured out where we were and what we’d be doing. He scoped out the baby pool area and played there a little while. But the temptation of that bigger pool was just too much, so we ventured into it…me hanging on to him for dear life.
About that time my friend “E” offered to let E.B. use her daughter’s floaties that the little girl refused to use. I was highly skeptical that these things would help much, but we pushed his little arms into the pink floaties and put him back into the big pool. I hung onto him still and my friend “E” had to coax me to let him go. I was hesitant…but I could tell E.B. was holding up pretty easy, so I did it. I let go. And he floated!
All over that big pool, with me standing near him, he floated to his heart’s content. And he screeched with excitement, laughed, and just had the Best. Time. Ever. I also felt a little relief that he didn’t have a constant death grip on me the whole time…we could float along and just enjoy the moment with each other. It was one of the best times we’ve ever had together and I’m glad I didn’t let my fears dictate the situation.
I suppose that’s how it’s going to be during his growing up years…me, hesitant to let him go and try new things and then him trying them with or without my permission and proving to me that he CAN do it. And then both of us feeling satisfaction…me in knowing he is growing up and developing his own survival skills, him that he is doing something on his own and feeling independent. (Can you almost hear “The Circle of Life” from The Lion King playing in the background?)
When we returned home, this happened at 9:15 PM:
That’s a record, people. Swimming really IS good.
I don’t know about you, but this kind of stuff makes me a teeny bit sad. Okay, maybe a lot sad. I’m glad you guys had a blast though… I’m pretty sure I know which pool you were at and it brings back so many memories of my childhood and summer. I LOVE IT.
The water does that to me too!
Swimming is one of the only things that wipes out my toddlers.
Afro…yep, it’s THAT pool! I used to spend many a summer there, too. We’ll probably join next year.Misty…I know!! I slept sooo good last night!Karen…Yep, if we had a swimming pool in our backyard I’d be all set at bedtime! LOL!
One small step for EB, and one GIANT STEP for Mommy Cracked! Good job, mom!
swimming = sleep! that rocks!
Swimming is great for wearing children and adults out. So is hiking:) Love the pink floaties! It is hard to see them grow up, but so awesome at the same time.
hi! I found my way here via Mommy Confessions and I’m adding you to my list of great mommy blogs- LOVE IT! Looks like your lil guy had a great day. You had me laughing w/ the fact that he passed out early and early is considered 9:15- I FEEL YA!
Oh, the pink floaties…..been there!FYI: the dollar store in our area had these….I stocked up! Check it out. For my son, these work even better than any of those other suits!
Awww… he’s out cold. That’s what I’m going to miss this winter… the good sleeping I get out of boys from being completely worn out from swimming at the pool every day all summer long. So those floaties really work, huh? Maybe I should get some for my littlest guy.
I take my kids everyday to the pool! Even though they are older, it still works out to go swim, come home eat dinner then “chill”. It makes for a very mellow evening!