Monday, July 30, 2007

My Almost Nightmare

I went to a pool party playdate today. Everything started great. We had been there before, so the Princess was looking forward to it. There's an in ground trampoline and a 30 foot water slide in my friend's backyard. The Princess was having tons fun going down the slide by herself with her life jacket on.

When the pizza came we all got our kids a slice of pizza. I took off the Princess' life jacket, dried her off and wrapped her in her towel. I sat her down and told her she had to eat before she went back in. All the kiddies ate at the kiddie table while the adults and the younger kids ate at the adult table.

Soon, the kids finished eating and started jumping on the trampoline. I finished feeding JR. Peanut and wiped him down. I decided to change him back into his regular clothes because he was shivering. While I was taking off the swim diaper, my other friend, J., was trying to ask me if I wanted her daughter's old floating bathing suit.

Then I heard something and I turned. On instinct, I put Jr. Peanut down and ran to the deep end of the pool. As I got to it, I saw my friend, A., jump in the water. The Princess had gone down the slide WITHOUT HER LIFE JACKET! I started screaming like a mad woman ( I didn't know this-- but J. later told me that I was screaming blood curdling screams). Just as A. reached her, the Princess was submerged and she was trying to reach up her hand. I was freaking out and delirious.

A. handed her to my other friend, D. (she's a registered nurse). The Princess was okay, but just shaken up and crying. D. handed her over to me, and I held her for a while. When she stopped crying, I lectured her about swimming without telling an adult and without using a life jacket.

I was really upset...and she just wanted to go back in. I wanted to leave because I was so upset and she wanted to stay. When we left, I visited the Breadwinner's office and started bawling. I can't seem to get rid of the image of her sinking with her hand reaching out, out of my head.

I'm traumatized. I don't think I can go to a pool with two kids or the beach when I'm out numbered 2 to 1 with my kids (Jennifer, I don't know how you did it!).

Today has been the scariest day of my life.

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

Cherann, I am so very sorry to hear of that very terrifying event. That stuff as a parent rips me apart. When my middle girl was a toddler, she ended-up in a pool and my then three-year-old screamed her head-off to alert my wife. Being a parent is just one of them most wonderful and heart-wrenching roles. I will be thinking of and praying for you that the memories will fade and that you will have peace.

Anonymous said...

Shit man, that stuff scares me to death.

I'm so glad she was alright.

Now I don't feel so bad when I am over Fa's head whenEVER we are near a pool.

Sarahviz said...

Your post made me shudder. I am obsessed with worrying about drowning lately. It's so scary.

Sarahviz said...

Cherann,
In response to your post on my blog, the cost for Early Intervention is FREE. It's a federal mandate that states must have this type of service. Check with your pediatrician for a phone number.
Sarah

Jennifer said...

That is so frightening. I'm relieved she's alright!

I wasn't outnumbered at the beach, my husband was there. I'm NOT that brave.

Brillig said...

Yikes! That is scary stuff! I grew up with a pool in my backyard. My parents were always very careful about locking all the gates and life jackets and so on. But one day one when I was 2, one of my teenage siblings propped the gate open (because teenagers do stupid things...) and I fell in when no one was looking. Four minutes later, my mom and sister found me, blue and unconscious. After a series of events, I was fine. But 27 years later, all three of us still have nightmares about it.

I hope you can have peace. Isn't it interesting how the emotional trauma can be so bad, even if the physical part turns out okay.

Stacey said...

How utterly frightening ! I'm so glad she's ok!

I can imagine how terrifying that was for you.

Shauna Loves Chocolate said...

Every parents worse nightmare. I'm so glad she's okay. My heart is pounding.

Anonymous said...

Cherann,

I am so glad the princess is ok. Super scary! Take a deep breath...

Butrfly Garden said...

Oh, Man! You made me cry!!

I know what you mean..having that image in your head. I do that all the time.

I'm so glad she is okay! I worry about my kids all the time when they are at my mom's. She lets them go down and swim in the lake with my 14 year old brother (who is a small guy). She tells them to wear lifejackets, but I know NB doesn't like to and he's the type who will take it off as soon as the grownups are gone. I told my mom, "What is DK going to do if suddenly, they're not there? Is he going to YELL for help? How long do you think it would take to find them in that water after an adult got down there? How long do you think they can hold their breathe?" "ALRIGHT. I GET IT. Geez."

I STILL worry. (I realize this is the same woman who raised five kids, but STILL. Grandmas can be lazy.)

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Jackie said...

Oh God, so glad she is OK! Scary stuff.

exskindiver said...

that was certainly scary.
enough said.
i don't even want to say anything further about this because i feel your scare.
glad it was not worse, and glad the princess did not get traumatized by it (she wanted to go back in the water right?)
like trenches of mommyhood--this too is one of my biggest fears.
hope you recover soon enough before the summer is over.

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