Water Torture

I finally gave in to the whining and bought one of those EZ Set Pools over the weekend. After getting it all set up and spending about a bazillion bucks on assorted pool chemicals that will no doubt damage the developing brains of my children, I was looking forward to watching my boys splash around all day. I had visions of lounging around in the shade, reading books and drinking frozen cocktails while my little angels splashed around gleefully in the expensive glorified tub that doubles as a grass killer.

Reality, as usual, is so dreadfully different. We made a conscious effort to buy the pool that was 3 feet deep so the 3 year old could stand up in it easily. As it turns out, there is some in-born mechanism that requires him to curl up his legs as soon as the water level reaches his chest. The result - he sinks like a stone and swallows buckets of water and we have to resort to sponge baths for the next week.

The good news is - we now have an audience. I've become acutely aware of just how many people can see directly into our backyard. It's amazing how the blood-curdling screams of a preschooler have the power to summon the entire neighborhood to their backyard fences in under 10 seconds. Yes, my dear husband. I admit it - the stockade fencing is a *fabulous* idea. Can we look into a sound-proofed glass dome, too? It'll be like one big greenhouse...

At least the 6 year old has learned that he can actually get his face wet and *not* die. It's only taken us the entire 6 years he's been alive to convince him of that fact. It's amazing what happens after you (literally) throw him into the pool enough times.