Don't try this at home

Here is something that is a bad idea: Take 4 kids to a water park when really only 1 of them can swim. By yourself.

It seemed like a good idea at the time. It's a zero entry pool, and I had warned the boys that they weren't going to go down the big slide until some of our neighbors (with bigger kids that could buddy up with them on the double inner-tubes) arrived. We could at least enjoy a little splashing with Leo. It was going to be much more fun that sitting at home chewing on each other.

It was only after I paid the entrance fee and put our things down on a chair that I noticed the wicked wind that was blowing. It was a beautiful, sunny day otherwise, but if you got out of the water, it was a bit brisk.

Of course, Mr. No Attention Span Spence kept climbing in and out, kept getting cold, kept wanting his towel, and then kept attaching his nose to my thigh whining he was "soooooo cooooooold!!" He then just decided this last step was the preferred one, and just stayed right there. Now, this may come as a bit of a surprise, but having a whining child perma-fixed on your body, when you have paid good money for this "treat" of a day, makes for a crabby mama.

But then, relief! Roxie and her gang arrived, and we could turn to the fabulous fun of the water slides! Happiness for all! My thigh gets a rest! All I had to do was stand in that small strip of cement between the pool at the bottom and walkway to the stairs up, watching the smiling children skamper by. Granted, I couldn't see everyone at all times, but it's a contained circle with the only prospect of drowning being right in front of me.

And then: "MAY WE HAVE YOUR ATTENTION. COULD REBECCA PLEASE COME TO THE LIFEGUARD OFFICE. REBECCA, PLEASE COME TO THE LIFEGUARD OFFICE. SPENCER IS LOOKING FOR YOU."

Seriously?

Any chance there is another Rebecca here with a child named Spencer? Nope. Not only did my kid get lost at a WATER PARK, Mother-of-the-year over here didn't even realize he was lost. He had felt cold, escaped me on his way to his towel, and then couldn't find us.

I guess the nose on the thigh is actually preferable to some of the other alternatives...