If I were to think about my other favorite summer activities in addition to the obvious mandatory summer reading (duh! – not), that would certainly be pool time. I don’t care if it’s one of those inflatable pools that you can put on your patio or in your garden, or if it’s a big olympic lap pool, or even one of those with the amazing slides and waterfalls that resorts usually have – I am telling you: if there is water, I am in it. I don’t care about wrinkled skin, I don’t care if it rains or if the sun shines; as long as I have my sunscreen on, a cool hat and preferably some ice cold drink and snacks nearby, the pool is where you will find me on any given summer day.
Us girls at the pool
For this article I am self-appointing myself the advocate of all water-loving kids and I’m introducing you to a special species of fun-killing adults: “the hovering pool parent”. You all know one, you all know someone who knows someone, who is one. Heck, you might even be one yourself. This is the parent who induces fear in the initially totally fearless child approaching the pool: “No! Don’t go in on the deep end!” or “Don’t you dare go in without your swimming aid!”. Don’t get me wrong here. I am all about pool safety and keeping an eye on your kid at all times. But for a 3 year old and even for a 9 year old, “the deep end” is any end of the pool. If you teach your kid how to be safe in the shallow end, then the whole pool becomes conquerable. I suggest you don’t kill the fun and try jumping in the water with your kid. Instead of all the talking, we much prefer having you around in the water, lending a hand. Teach your kids that water is great and safe as long as you follow certain rules. Smile when the kid comes out for a fresh breath, even if she swallowed a handful of water. Fear is easy, courage takes practice.
Of course Dante swims too!
I also see a lot of parents dropping off their kids at the swimming pool for their lessons and storming off in a hurry to make it to their next appointment, waiving an absent goodbye while talking on their cell phones. I get it that you cannot stay every time and very few adults have the privilege of spending time with their kids without neglecting their daily duties, but I beg of you, stay for a couple of minutes. If you cannot join in the water, wave from the side. Burst in applause for every stroke and dive. Be amazed by any distance swam under the surface. Cheer like your kid is the next Michael Phelps even if his greatest achievement of the day was mastering his own version of doggy swim. Be there! Make those couple of minutes count. We might never be world winning medalists, but all we want is to be your champion.
Last but not least, if you want to be the cool parent at the pool, let your kid play. Should I say this again? Let your kid play, splash, talk to the imaginary mermaid swimming by her side, dive for toys and make cannon balls. I assure you, your kid will not catch a cold for being in the water for too long – hey, as Mowgli used to say, “we are much stronger than a lot of people think!”, and you should not be obsessing about them swallowing some pool water. Stay close, teach your kid not to run near the pool as it is true that you can fall on slippery surfaces, always wear flip flops in the shower if you go to a community pool, apply sun screen and as a side note…we all appreciate a nice ice cream if you want to make an impression.
Caroline waiting for the ice-cream 🙂