Yesterday we were at our pool. Austin and Nyah had jumped in- they sort of know what they are doing. I'm walking down the stairs with Jolie when I turn and realize Olivia has already jumped in without her arm floaties. She is an arm's length away, underwater with a huge grin on her face, and (of course) has no idea she is on her way to drowning. Thankfully I'm right there and snatch her up before she even knows, only to have her demand I let go. This prompts yet another rule for ME!! for going to the pool-- Olivia and Jolie have to have arm floaties or life jackets on before they can even go through the fence to the pool. I wish they could wear them and fit into their car seats, because that would be easier for me.
My nightmare: I'm at a river with my kids, Nyah decides to jump in and Olivia follows. I have to decide who to save. I jump for Olivia. I am reaching for her but I can hear Nyah calling for me behind me. And then I wake up. I do the little game of day-dreaming my nightmare into a happy ending, but it doesn't really make me feel better.
Water activities are my kids' favorite activities. Water and kids is my nightmare.
So, what do I do?
First, talk to Kurt about swim lessons- we had talked about giving them to the kids on our own (Kurt grew up by the ocean and I did swim team), but we haven't had time so maybe its time to find out about other options. He gives me weird looks until I tell him about my dream, then he chuckles at me (which is okay with me because he knows how I get), and then says to look into it, but that maybe we can find the time after this weekend because he's going to be gone the whole time.
Second, breakfast conversation with Austin & Nyah- what to do if you are in trouble, what to do if you see someone in trouble, its important to know that anyone Olivia's size or smaller shouldn't be under water for more than a second, where I keep my cell phone in our swim bag, calling 911, getting a grown-up, never get into the pool without a parent around, stay where you can touch unless you have a floatie or noodle and hang on at all times, stay with me- if I'm in the big pool, spa, or eating lunch at a table then you should be with me, and so on. I hate coming across as the paranoid mom I am sometimes, but it helps me feel better, and its good to review our family rules before we go swimming anyways.
Then, we go swimming- sometimes (or is it always?) I blow things out of proportion and I have to face it. At 5 a.m. my resolution was to never go near a body of water again. Not exactly a realistic plan. At the pool, Austin and Nyah mostly followed our rules, and there were no mishaps with the little two.
Finally, share, i.e. blog, i.e. pour out all my mental drama in a cathartic attempt to get it off my mind- I can't get Olivia's face, underwater with a huge grin on it, along with the thought "this is how it happens," out of my mind.
Yuck, aren't you glad you stopped by today? I'll post some happy thoughts later.
1 comment:
That is a terrifying dream.
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