The joy of the pool!
July 21st, 2006Lil’ Duck is easily thrilled, but nothing makes him happier than the promise of swimming in the pool. He jumps up and down, shouts with glee, then runs around collecting all his pool supplies. He gets his swimmies, his pool shoes, his swim diaper, swim trunks, my swimsuit, his ball, his boat, and his tube; piling them all at my feet with eager anticipation. He does all he can to help me put his swim diaper and trunks on, stepping into it and pulling it up with his chubby little hands. He sticks out his arm for a swimmie and pats it with wonder. Then he puts his feet into his shoes and takes off running for the door. If it isn’t opened quickly enough, he knocks on it and says “hewlo, hewlo, pool, wa-wa??”.
Once the door is opened, he takes off running for the stairs. With the utmost baby caution, he holds my hand and the handrail, cautiously putting one foot down, then the other, while all the while surveying the pool below. When he finally reaches the ground, he jumps with glee, running for the pool gate. He yanks it open and waits impatiently for me to put our towels and shoes down.
Finally, the moment is at hand. He waddles over to the stairs, grasping my hand and the handrail as he steps into the water. Once on the first step, he leaps eagerly into my arms, enjoying the feeling of the cool water on his little belly. He looks around, admiring the palm trees, the other people, the balls in the water, the lizards sunning themselves on the pool deck, and any other items of interest. Then he pushes away from me and takes off. I support his belly as he kicks and splashes like a little frog.
Unbeknownst to him, he would never go anywhere if I wasn’t propelling him, but he takes great delight in the thought that he is “wimming”. Once he reaches the other side of the pool, he climbs out, planting his feet, not his knees, just like a big person. He turns around, creeps forward until his feet are right on the edge, and starts to bounce - “one, two, TREEEEE!!” as he launches himself into my arms. Delighted screams and happy splashing abounds.
This is the essence of summer - the pure, sweet joy of a little one over such simple, everyday things that I would have taken for granted. It makes up for the lack of quiet sunbathing time (now I get buried in sand and am presented with palm tree leaves), for all the disaster and stress he causes, for it is just the two of us, enjoying summer together as friends.
Written for the Carnival of the Blogging Chicks Summer Theme (July 23rd).
Linked to Conservative Cat, TMH’s Bacon Bits, Adam’s Blog, Stuck on Stupid, Echo9er, Third World County, Samantha Burns & Is it Just Me?
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Who needs sunbathing when you’ve got a ray of sunshine like Lil’ Duck Duck!
Excellent post!! It is always gives me such joy to see things through the eyes of a child. I love your writing style.
Thanks for coming by my place and thanks for sharing your story here
These are the times that you’ll look back on with fond memories. Happy Summer!
cant wait to take my little swimming in the summer time
How much fun to be Lil’ Duck, Duck! Pool days are the best aren’t they!
It took our 3rd boy to get his brothers interested in swimming and they have been nuts about it this year. After spend a week at the cottage where they were in the lake all week, they have been bugging the neighbor everyday about swimming in their pool and so far they are ok with it. Our yard can’t handle a pool (I dont’ want the work) but I’m thankful for neighbors who will let us join them in the summer fun.
What a delightfully beautiful post! I have tears in my eyes now, ya know. Tears of joy. [smile] The love you have for your son shows through in your posts, and is incredibly heartwarming.
Hahahaha! One, two, TREEEE!!! Cute! :o) I love how he gathers all of his supplies together at his feel! This is such a wonderful post! GREAT WORK!!! :o)
Hi Mama Duck,
I am so pleased you pointed this out to me in your email; I love it!
I am a firm believer in seeing the world through a child’s eyes, and you have definitely got the nack with Lil Duck.
Many more ‘wimming’ days in the ‘wa-wa’ for you wonderful people…..
cq
My daughter thinks she can swim too - especially when we hold her up by her suit straps. What a shock it would be if we let go - but never!!! Love the post.
My daughter’s no longer a little duck, but the desire to swim doesn’t diminish with age.
Give me an ice tea, a seat in the shade, and I’ll be happy to supervise!!!!!
Viewing your post via bloggingchicks. What a wonderful memory your story brought to my mind. My son, now an obnoxious teenager, was a duck once.
What a sweet post! I’ve got a little duck of my own, and it is so fun to watch them enjoy things like the pool.
Here via the Carnival!
I loved this post! What a joy experiencing swimming in the eye’s of your little duckie!!
Here via Blogging Chicks today!
oh - how fun!! I wish we had a pool at our house. We had one at my parents house when I was a teenager. So great!
Yes truly, seeing the world through the eyes of a little child, really helps us see & be thankfuly for the little wondres in our life each days. Left to ourselves we all would soon be in danger of becoming really jaded in our outloo towards life. My little girls constantly remind me that each day is more beautiful than the previous day… as for the pool… well, my kids are in bliss or should I say kiddie heaven, when I suggest a day at the pool (We do not have one of our own), or if we open out their inflatable pool over the weekend…
Awww, how fun! Both my girls are little fishes at heart too!
Guess that’s why you call him Lil’ Duck! Visiting from the Carnival. Great Post.
That is so sweet! It amazing how much something so simple can make a kid’s day.
What a great post! My little guy loves the pool as well. He’ll go into his nursery, find his swim diapers, and point to them saying, “Pool? Pool?” to let us know he wants to go swimming!
You never dissapoint me! I love everything about your blog…you’re the BEST!!!
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