A Close Call

Last week, we had something very scary happen...a close call with Millie in the pool.  We were invited to another neighborhood pool with friends.  Two of the other kids were in swim lessons that week, so they were practicing going without their floaties.  Since Millie was just playing in the shallow end, I let her go without her floatie, as well.  A half hour passed, and all was well...and of course I got too comfortable.  Then Millie spotted a toy floating in the deep end and crept along the wall to go get it.  Once she let go of the wall to get the toy, she got in trouble.  Thankfully, my friend alerted me of the trouble immediately.  I had to wade through the entire pool to get to her, and it felt like everything was in slo-motion.  She couldn't keep her head above water and the look on her face was pure terror.  I scooped her up and we both cried.  It was easily the scariest moment of my life.  What if my friend hadn't been watching?!  How long would it have taken me to notice?  I'm still so mad at myself over the incident.  So many what ifs.  I'm so so grateful for other moms' watchful eyes, and I'm actually grateful for this awful close call, as well.  It really scared both of us, and now Millie won't go near the pool without her floatie on.  After weeks of swim lessons and then our time at the beach house with the shallow pool, I think Millie didn't really understand what deep water was or how she needs to respect it.  She is a little more timid in the pool now, but at least she'll still get in.  

Syd's doing great too!  These puddle jumpers are pretty amazing.  We didn't go to the pool at all last year because I didn't feel like I could keep them both safe.  Now that Syd is old enough to wear one too, we've been having a lot of fun at the pool.  New rule though:  anytime we are inside the fence with the pool, you must be wearing your floatie!  I've heard a lot of scary stories from other moms after sharing my own on Facebook.  No taking it off to eat snacks or change clothes before going home; we won't be taking those things off until we get to the car.