I saw you yesterday at swimming lessons and I couldn't stop thinking about you. It seems like such a simple thing - taking your child to the pool. But I know these basic events, things meant to be fun, can be exhausting.
I'm sorry I never offered to help you when your child was running on the wet floor and you were trying to get changed. I know how hard it can be to watch a toddler, especially in a weird wet place where you have no choice but to get naked at one point. I'm sure running after a child in a towel half draped around you feels demeaning. I wish our pool facilities offered good options for parents.
Please know I can relate, and hope you don't feel embarrassed. I want you to know that I see you.
- I see you trying to prevent a squirmy restless toddler from entering the pool before his lesson time.
- I see you dreading the inevitable fall when your kid runs on the wet pool deck.
- I see you trying your best to participate in the songs that occupy 75% of the swimming lesson curriculum, even though they are just so stupid.
- I see you giving up half way through the lesson, because 15 minutes of making your child cry is long enough.
- I see you wishing you had an extra set of hands, or eyes, to deal with your kid while you pulled everything out of your locker.
- I see you praying your child won't fall off that small bench he was laying on while you reach for something just out of your grasp.
- I see you hesitate about how modest you will be, and then forgo everything because it's just easier and faster to be buck naked then worry about another mom seeing your postpartum body.
- I see you spend all the time making your child dry and comfortable, and 1 minute or less on yourself.
Most of all I just want you to know that I see how great of a mother you are. Sometimes the small things we do for our kids are really hard, and no one acknowledges them. So, mom at the pool with a toddler, I just wanted to say that you rock. Your child is so lucky to have such a selfless mom.
Oh, and the next time I see you, I'll be sure to offer to chase your little one around for a couple minutes so you don't have to worry about running around with your lady bits exposed.
Love,
CIO Mom
Haha, this is me every week at swimming lessons. The only one without a husband or wife on hand to watch and hand the towel over at the end (I'm a single parent), and the only one lugging all the swimming gear and buggy with the toddler there and back on the bus (everyone else drives). Thanks for looking out for me and my brethren!
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