With this weekend, it's officially summer season. With the beginning of summer, comes the endless days of swimming in the pool. We have an in-ground pool in our backyard. Its not large, only 12' x 24', and 3-5 feet deep, but the kids and our friends have plenty of room for fun. I, however, don't get in very often. It's not that I don't like to swim, really I do, I was on the swim team in high school, coached one of our local swim teams after college, and taught swim lessons and did life guarding in my life before children. But I don't like to get in the pool with my kids.
Mostly, it's that while my children are in the pool, especially when it comes to our three year old, inevitably someone needs something that requires me to get out. Someone needs to go potty, or needs a drink, or needs a new towel, or forgot their goggles, or the waterproof football ended up in the bushes. I just don't find the time enjoyable.
Now really, I love to sit out there and watch them. I like to keep the big kids, including my husband, from drowning each other with their horseplay. I like to watch the 3 year old hit wiffle balls into the water with his plastic bat. I like to get some sun while I watch them enjoy the water. And occasionally, when I get too warm in the sun, I will take a quick dip to cool off. But then the phone will ring, or someone will want a sandwich, and I will climb out and continue to watch from the sidelines.
Right now, as I'm writing this, my husband and big kids are in the pool. My three year old is inside with me, playing with his Thomas trains, and my husband has just come to the door asking if I can come check the skimmer and turn on the pool light. It's always something! :)
