Pool Days

Well for the past two days we have had glorious sunshine! It was a welcome change after all the rain we had this past week. When the sun comes out, or to be honest even when it doesn't, basically as long as it doesn't rain......the family heads to the pool each and every afternoon. We don't have anything else on our calendar. I figure it is summer time and what better way to celebrate than to do nothing except spend it at the pool.

I have to confess my new love for Korean lifeguards these days. Their rules seem to be a little different than those in the states. My four year old courageously jumps into the 10 feet deep end with a life jacket that they provide. For some reason our lifeguards in the states frown on this. She attempted to do this just one little time and they blew the whistle so hard at her that she didn't stop crying for days. The Korean lifeguards would never do this. They hardly ever blow their whistles and when they do it is barely even a blow....more like a hushed puff of air. This can be both a negative and a positive. It is negative when those crews of teenagers descend on the pool and they play so roughly causing annoying splashes and unintentional body blows. You really want that whistle blown in their direction along with an eviction from the pool. The lack of power whistle blowing is positive; however, when your young child models the unruly teenage behavior. The lack of whistle blowing protects you as a mother from that embarrassing scenario where all eyes is drawn to your child as you slowly sink into your poolside chair. Of course that never would happen to any of my children as they are well mannered and have all that pool etiquette down pat.

Anyway, spending time at the pool is the best way to spend the perfect summer afternoon. We spend an average of 4 hours there each and every day. The children swim and play, take a break and then repeat the process all over again. They never seem to tire of the whole experience. The mothers update each other of the happenings that occurred during those few hours they were away from the pool. They also share about their lives and those of their neighbors. All and all much intense and interesting conversation slowly drifts from all directions. Valuable information is shared and collected all the while as the children swim and play then swim and play again. As we head home each evening, my youngest always asks the important question……”Can we go to the pool tomorrow?” I always answer………”Of course, I couldn’t think of a better way to spend the day.”