LEASONED LEARNED

LATE THIS SUMMER WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME AT THE ROY AQUATIC CENTER. IT'S A REAL NEAT PLACE FOR KIDS AND EVEN ADULTS TO SWIM AND HAS LOTS OF TOYS FOR KIDS OF ALL AGES TO PLAY WITH. MY KIDS REALLY LIKE IT.

ONE OF THE TIMES WE WENT WAS FOR A BIRTHDAY PARTY AND I HAD JUST HAD A BABY SO I DIDN'T HAVE A SWIMMING SUIT ON, I HAD NO INTENTIONS OF GETTING IN THE WATER. THE FRIEND I WENT WITH SAID SHE WOULD HELP ME KEEP AN EYE ON MY KIDS.

WHEN NEED TO GO BACK TO THE CAR TO GET THE REST OF THE STUFF. ARE KIDS DIDN'T WANT TO COME WITH US, THEY WANTED TO START SWIMMING. MY FRIEND HAD NO PROBLEM LETTING HER FOUR YEAR OLD GO OFF ON HER OWN. ME, I ASKED ME 12 YEAR OLD TO KEEP AN EYE ON HER. HE AGREES AND OFF THEY GO.

WE GET BACK FROM THE CAR WITH THE REST OF ARE STUFF AND WE CAN SEE MY FRIENDS DAUGHTER, BUT CAN'T FIND MY KIDS. SO I ASKED THE FOUR YEARS OLD AND SHE TELLS ME MY OLDEST WENT ON THE BIG SLIDE. I'M FREAKING OUT BECAUSE HE ISN'T THE BEST SWIMMER AND HE HAS TAKEN MY TWO YEAR OLD DOWN THIS HUGE SLIDE.

SO I WAIT AT THE SIDE FOR HIM TO COME DOWN THE SLIDE. HE COMES DOWN THEIR IS NO LITTLE GIRL WITH HIM. NOW I'M PISSED. JUST YELLING AT HIM AND NEXT THING I KNOW I HEAR THERE IS IS A GIRL AT THE FRONT HOW IS LOST. SHE HAS BLOND HAIR, IS WEARING A PURPLISH LIFE JACKET, AND HAS A TATTOO ON HER RIGHT UPPER ARM.

THERE IS MY DAUGHTER. I GO AND GET HER AND I'M STILL YELLING AT MY OLDEST. WHAT WERE YOU THINKING LEAVING A TWO YEAR OLD ALL BY HERSELF SOMEBODY COULD HAVE SNATCHED HER OR SHE COULD HAVE DROWNED. I'M ALMOST CRYING. HE LOOKS AT ME AND SAYS IT'S NOT MY FAULT I ASKED THE FOUR YEAR OLD TO WATCH HER FOR ME.

SO WHAT HAPPENED IS THE MINUTE MY OLDEST SAW USE WALK OUT OF THE GATES. HE TURNED TO THE FOUR YEAR OLD AND LEFT MY TWO YEAR OLD IN HER CARE. I WAS NOT HAPPY BECAUSE IN MY HOUSE IF I ASK YOU TO DO SOMETHING YOU CAN SAY NO. LIKE I ASKED HIM WOULD YOU MIND KEEPING AN EYE ON YOUR SISTER? HE COULD HAVE SAID NO BUT HE DIDN'T HE JUST PAWNED HER OFF.

I HOPE HE DOESN'T EVER DO THAT AGAIN. I DON'T THINK HE WILL BECAUSE AFTER THAT THE ONLY TIME HE WAS PLAYING WAS WITH HIS SISTER. THIS TIME HE DIDN'T HAVE A CHOICE AT ALL, AND I WILL NEVER GO TO A SWIMMING PARK AGAIN RIGHT AFTER HAVING A BABY. IT'S TO HARD TO WATCH A TWO YEAR OLD WHO ISN'T AFRAID OF MUCH WHEN YOU DON'T WANT TO GET WET.