Please do NOT leave your children unsupervised by the pool!!

[logansmomma2007]

We went to our nephew's birthday today.  His mom threw him a pool party at my mother in law's house.  When we arrived a bunch of kids were in the pool having a blast.  I sat on the side while Logan played on the step.  There was this one particular little girl that caught my eye.  She was floating around the pool on a mesh adult float device unsupervised.  She had to be around two, but not over three.  It was obvious that she couldn't swim.  This soon was confirmed when she fell off the float and clung to the side for her dear life.  A woman (whom I assume was her mother) heard the screams and came running to get her out.  To my surprise she put the little girl back on the float and returned to the porch which was a good distance from the pool.  Shocked, I decided that I needed to keep an eye on this little girl.   

A few minutes passed and the little girl got off of the float device.  She stayed on the step with Logan and played a bit.  All of a sudden the little girl got out of the pool and proceeded to the deep end.  My heart raced as I expected the worse.  She sat down, put her feet in and slipped into the pool without a sound.  There was so much commotion going on from the other kids that I doubt anyone saw this happen.  Everything went in slow motion as ran to the deep end and jumped in to get her.  My mother in law saw me surface and raced to the side of the pool.  She took the girl from me while I made my way to the shallow end.  When I got out I was a trembling mess.  My mother in law brought me a towel and tried to calm me down.  Everyone but the parents came to see what had happened.  I was so upset and angry that they could be so careless with such a fragile life.  The party went on and the parents never did approach me.  I am still at a loss as to why they couldn't muster up the courage to thank me.  

In my mind, there is no excuse for letting a child who can't swim be unsupervised around the pool.  Pools are extremely deadly and should not be taken lightly.  The pool could have very well been that little girls grave.  

[ivansmom07]

Jul. 25, 2009 at 5:12 PM

Laurel, I'm pissed of for you.

Pools scare me, you better believe that's the one place I'm all over Ivan like cheese on a Big Mac...or something.

I want to say that the fear, anger and rush of saving that little girl would have allowed me to tell off her parents.

But maybe I, too, would have been relieved she was ok I would have let it slide.

 

[logansmomma2007]

Jul. 25, 2009 at 5:17 PM

Angie, it took everything in me not to approach her.  I honestly didn't want to cause a scene and ruin the party.  I did however mutter words of frustration to my husband's family.  I am sure that it got back to her. 

(Original Poster)

[beanielips]

Jul. 25, 2009 at 5:20 PM

Oh, I know how you feel!

When I need to go inside at a party or something like that, I ask another parent to keep an eye on my kids in the pool.  If there is too much going on in the pool I take my youngest out because she isn't that good of a swimmer.

I would hope that the reason the parents didn't say anything is because of shame.. I can hope.

[Heather_F]

Jul. 25, 2009 at 5:26 PM

oh my God I am SO with you on this! I have been invited to two pool parties so far with my kids and one was an adult party with liquor. My sister in law had an adult party for her hubby's who just returned home from his latest tour in Iraq. There were drinks being served, a food spread galore, a bounce house and of course the in ground pool. I have a 2 and 4yr old and neither one can swim, so I stressed the whole time while my husband was having a high time! LOL Mine were the youngest kids there so unlike you I didnt have to worry too much about the other children. Once it got dark out and my toddler was in and out of the house, I said its time to go. No way would anyone notice her in the pool after dark, and believe me...she would have found a way to get back into that pool. Good for you watching out for that toddler, seems like you were at that party for reason and thank god for that!

[singedwingangel]

Jul. 25, 2009 at 5:55 PM

OH no SEE nooooooooooooo no way in heck would I have not said anything to those parents. I would have been all over that woman like white on rice when she came back and put the child back on the float and walked off. THEN once I had to save the child they woulda had to call an ambulance for momma cause I woulda laid hands onher and NOT to pray.

[logansmomma2007]

Jul. 25, 2009 at 6:03 PM

You're right Angel, I really should have said something when she put her back on the float.  I didn't know the woman nor did I want to offend her.  Now I know better for next time.

(Original Poster)

[KelleyP77]

Jul. 25, 2009 at 6:15 PM

Thank God you were there! And I'm shocked her parent didn't have the courage to thank you for saving there daughter's life! How could they have not seen the severity of what could have, and almost, happened?

This situation hits very close to home. Ruby was on the step like Logan. I was inside and my husband was watching her but asked his sister to keep a close eye on Ruby while he came inside to get a drink. He was inside for all of 30 seconds, and in that time my SIL turned her back on Ruby and started talking to someone. Well Ruby went under and another little girl saved her. She was out of the pool and coughing up water by the time we got to her. My SIL was completely oblivious. I came very close to knocking her the F out that day, especially after Ruby said, "Mommy, I was going down and I was calling for you." None of his family even gave a shit!

It only takes a second for tragedy to happen around water. Parents need to be aware. We learned our lesson to never trust ANYONE else to watch our kids around a pool even for 30 seconds.

[jsbenkert]

Jul. 25, 2009 at 6:16 PM

Wow.  That is frightening.  Those parents have no idea, apparently, just how lucky they are that you were there and had the presence of mind to jump in.  Good for you, shame on them.

If this should happen again, though, you have first-hand experience to back up any discussion you choose to have with the parents in question.

[Gaia_Rain]

Jul. 25, 2009 at 6:23 PM

Wow Lorel!  Good for you for looking out for this little girl, whose parents were obviously too worried about themselves to care for their child.  I SO would have been screaming at that parent - ruined party or not!

[tericared]

Jul. 25, 2009 at 6:25 PM

wow you are more calm, cool, and collected than I would have been...I would have made a scene for sure,,,how sad for this little girl to have parents who really dont care if she lives or dies...