It Only Takes A Second

We finally got our nightmare of a freaking project that was a pain in my tucus to assemble because our yard is not level Intex Metal Frame Pool up and the kids got to jump in yesterday. We had a very, VERY belated family birthday party for W., who turned 10 on...um....June 4th?! YIKES!

My bad.

We sat the kids down and ran down the list of rules involving the use of the pool. Mr. Schmitty was somewhat apprehensive when I told him I wanted a pool. The combination of a pool and kids scared him. I reassured him that we were cautious parents, overly protective ones, in fact. It would be fine.

Plus, I painted a picture of what I might be like if there was no form of entertainment for our precious tykes this summer. He, I believe, weighed his two fears and realized that getting the pool was the better route to take. Such a smart fella, that hubs of mine.

So, the rules were pounded into the heads of the Schmitty kids, over and over and OVER again. We set the chime on our alarm box so we would know whenever a door or window was opened. We put Body Glove Float Suits AND water wings on the non-swimmers. T. and R. looked like the Michelin Man's babies. It was total overkill, as neither of them weigh more than 40 pounds, but the distribution of floats over their bodies prevented them from tipping over. It made them feel safer, which in turn, calmed Mr. Schmitty. At least a tad.

No children were allowed in the pool without an adult in the yard. Actually, no children were allowed in the yard without a supervising adult. They were also not allowed in the pool alone. If all but one wanted to get out of the pool, then the lone swimmer needed to deal and get out too.

We had all bases covered. We had at least five parents, at a time, as lifeguards. Mr. Schmitty was happy. The kids were THRILLED.

After the party, Mr. Schmitty was cleaning up outside. R. and her BFF, E., were "helping" him. He had turned on the filter to clean the pool and the girls were running around and splashing each other with the water from R.'s kiddie pool.

Mr. Schmitty turned his back for a second and then he heard R.'s crying. He looked across the yard where she and E. were standing, huddled together. He immediately knew what had happened. He ran across the yard. R. was crying that her hand hurt and that she had gotten shocked.

Yup, she touched the plug to the filter. It was hanging out of the outlet. She was wet. She tripped the GFI.

Thank GOD she was still breathing.

All the precautions for the pool to prevent drowning. All the over protectiveness in the world. A split second of letting your guard down. I could have lost my sweet pixie-girl.

I think I grew some grey hair last night.