Swimming Safety: We’ve been doing a ton of swimming since school ended and it’s been blazing hot. Sadly, reports of pool and lake drownings are all over the news. We witnessed a near drowning firsthand on Father’s Day as we swam with family and friends at their club pool, which was fabulously uncrowded (no need to throw myself over a lounge chair even). Caveman horsed around with the kids in the pool while I took a breather…prime chair after all.
I heard splashing and struggling and looked up to see a small girl, maybe 4 years old, alone, fighting to stay afloat in the 10-ft. section. She was directly in front of the lifeguard’s chair, yet the lifeguard didn’t see her. I heard the Caveman say to Thing 1 “Here take her!” and handed Thing 2 to her as he swam out to the struggling girl. Time stood still. After what seemed like eternity, the lifeguard jumped in and she and the Caveman got to the girl simultaneously. Thankfully she was fine. After a very public family feud about who was supposed to be watching the girl, things returned to a strained normal. I wondered how the girl had gotten to the middle of the 10-ft. area. That mystery was solved when I saw her slip into the deep end next to the diving board and attempt to swim across to the shallow part. AGAIN. This time her dad was there to help her. But scary. So scary. It happens so fast. Even in a pool that was far from crowded, the lifeguard did not see this child right away. A reminder to all. Lifeguards are not there to babysit our kids.
Summer Staycation: The glorious, golden days of summer are here. We all know how they slip away all too fast. How will you make the most of them? I hope to strike a balance between relaxing and catching our breath while we’re off the school grind but not sleeping half the day away then vegging on the couch in front of infernal Disney reruns either. Making the most of this fleeting season requires a plan. Here are some activities I hope to incorporate since there is no family vacation on the horizon for us:
- Fresh Air: play/swim/enjoy the outdoors daily
- Fun with family and friends
- Enjoy the daylight: After-dinner frisbee, bike riding volleyball scavenger hunts, we play straight through til bed time
- 6 Flags: Thing 1 is convinced she’s the last 10-year old on earth to never have been there. Maybe she’s right. But that is about to change.
- Outdoor concert under the stars. We never made it to Ravinia last summer.
- Picnic
- Boat ride
- Make it into downtown Chicago. We’re so close yet so far.
This season I also plan to write down and photograph “One summery thing” we did each day. It can be as simple as enjoying a slice of watermelon, picking a strawberry or watching a sunset. Here’s today’s entry:
This is the view from my summer ‘pseudo-meditation’ spot. I say pseudo because I’ve haven’t yet been able to stop my mind from racing without falling asleep. I sit here first thing every morning and listen to the birds, feel the breeze, behold nature’s beauty and just be. Serene and grateful.
When school starts we’ll reflect back on our memories. Hopefully summer won’t seem so fleeting this way. One can dream.
Wanna join me? How will you make the most of this summer?
Glad your husband was able to see her! This is a big discussion on a local message board. Unfortunately it seems to be that the parents aren’t paying attention and think the lifeguards will see everything. Way to much for that to happen.
That is scary! I’m glad your husband tried to help her! Lifeguards definitely can’t see everything when it happens because they are scanning the entire area, I’m glad her father was with her the next time.
Sounds like you have some fun staycation activities planned!
I’m pretty sure I won’t be working from home forever, so I’m going to take advantage of the summer by running when it’s beautiful out and working from the back patio when it’s not too blazingly hot 🙂
I love this idea! And that picture you took. I would love to hold onto summer–it really is the best part of the year, imho.
Very scary about the pool incident. When it’s crowded, there’s no way a lifeguard can catch everything. We do have to be careful, even with good swimmers.
Oh gosh, is that ever scary. Makes you wonder if the lifeguard would have noticed in time if Caveman hadn’t. :/ Be safe out there!
Sounds like an excellent plan to make the most out of summer vacation! Times like this, I really wish I was a teacher… 😉 Enjoy!
My main motivation for learning how to swim is in case i ever saw some one in trouble, i would want to be able to help them. That and i don’t want to be one in trouble…the poor life guard might not be strong enough to rescue an adult! Thank goodness you noticed…..
Yikes! When I was little I was caught in an undertow and drowning – needless to say my step dad WAS watching me and rescued me – no lifeguards noticed!
I think I need your life and you are the best at taking some relaxing time!! I wish it were cool enough for me to sit outside right now.
Swimming is so much fun and even if you are unable to go on a vacation, if you own a pool, you will have fun!
I am terrified of pools with my 3-year-old twins. Terrified! But I know they eventually have to learn to swim or miss out on a cool part of life.
What a beautiful spot to start your morning!
Sounds like a great plan for the summer! Love the picture idea too.
Forget the kids, I’m pretty sure I’d be the one to drown.
Once when I was at a lake, the lifeguards called everyone out of the water because a child who was reported to have last been seen swimming, was missing. They had to link arms and trudge through the water in case she drowned and had sunk. As they called out for her over the speakers, a confused-looking girl matching her description wandered over from the concession stand, ice pop in hand. I was so FLIPPIN mad because I was so petrified that the lifeguards were about to pull a lifeless body out of the water, but in reality, the grownups responsible for her hadn’t been paying attention.
Scary incident and it happened in a pool. The sea is more dangerous. Enjoy your summer vacation. Mine will be family, beach, swimming, running and …… work!!
love your post…love summer!