We were at the park with a lake today with friends and lots of kids.
The kids played on the playground, in the sandbox, and had lunch. We went for a walk to the dock out onto the water. We walked the trail to go check out the fishing spots.
The boys threw rocks and leaves in the water. The girls chatted away with Prairie Mama about fairies and fairy houses and whatnot. Lauren and I stood in the middle, between the girls and the boys, chatting away. We kept our eyes on the boys because they were so close to the water and you know, water accidents only take 2 seconds to happen.
We looked at each other for 2 seconds and 2 seconds only and not at the boys when IT happened.
Lauren glanced back to the boys and she screams and then I look to where she is looking and everything was happening in slow motion but moving really fast at the same time when I saw what she saw.
Her son was on land. All we could see of my son Little Anthony, my two year old toddler, was the top of his head as the rest of him was submerged in the lake.
As my brain was comprehending what I was seeing, Lauren was moving very fast to the water. Before I could even move, she was at the water's edge and grabbing the shirt of my 2 year old toddler and dragging him out of the water. His eyes were as big as saucers and he was frozen in place. As soon as his feet hit the ground, he let out this loud scream and started shaking. He cried and cried and Lauren and I held his hands and talked to him softly and then I scooped him up in my arms and he cried some more.
He laid his head on my shoulders for 10 minutes and cried and shook and I soothed him with kisses and hugs and soft words. If I tried to loosen his grip on me, he just gripped harder.
I know he is safe. I know he is fine. I know I am a good mom. I know that I am vigilante about watching my kids when they are around water. However, this little incident just proved to me that I need to be even more vigilant about water safety.
I was only 10 feet away from him, and it still only took 2 seconds of glancing away for this to happen.
I refuse to let my mind go to the "what if" place of motherhood. I refuse.
Thank you Lauren. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
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12 comments:
this happened to one of my kids a few years ago in my inn law's pool. there were literally ten or more adults monitoring the kids. in a split second my then two year old was in the deep end. my husband dove in and pulled her up by her hair. i was really shaken. that night, it really hit me after everyone was asleep. i just sobbed. it reminded me also to be even MORE vigilant around water. i am so glad your little man was ok! i'm also glad you are ok :)
Do not let your mind go there. They call them accidents for a reason. You are a very good mommy. Little Anthony is safe and that is what you have to focus on. ((HUGS))
Ahhh! My heart is pounding for you. But as Nancy said, you can't go to that ugly place. You are a fabulous mom and Little A is safe. ((hugs)) mama!
Oh gosh girl, that stuff scares the crap out of me! And yes, it can happen SO fast, in the blink of an eye. And to ANYONE. You are a wonderful mother and I'm SO glad that Anthony is safe and sound.
I thank God he was watching over Little Anthony and that he is just fine. Never for one second doubt what a wonderful mother you are. This is so scary and accidents can happen in the blink of an eye. ((hugs)) to you both.
Oh, sweetheart. That is SO scary. My heart raced for you, just imagining how he felt. Thank God he's okay.
Yikes!! Thanks for posting and you are so right...it only takes a second! Glad little man is fine and it's amazing how many lessons we learn from such small beings! HUGS!!
So scary!! Glad everyone is safe!
Oh honey! So glad he's safe!! <3
*big hugs*
i'm sure you'll be hugging them a little more tightly this week.
Thank you for all your kind words. Last night, while Little Dude was sleeping, I went into his room, picked him up and just snuggled his toddler-ness for a few minutes. He snuggled deep into my arms. Gosh, I love that boy.
We almost lost one of our girls in a hot tub, at a hotel, at a family function with many adults around - many of whom had assured me they would help my husband watch the kids while I was gone. They didn't, at least for a minute. He turned, saw her face down floating on the water, jumped in fully clothed, pulled her out. We were so lucky that day. Glad you are all ok (and we don't let our kids near water without life vests now)
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