Sunday, July 25, 2010

The Beach Trip

"Tom, watch Tommy. WATCH TOMMY!" I screamed from the shore.

Tommy was with Tom, out in the distance, and the waves looked awfully scary to me from where I stood. Tom, who I know has a habit of zoning out, was standing quite a length apart from Tommy, who was happily splashing in the waves.

"WATCH TOMMY!" I cupped my hands around my mouth and a few beachgoers stared at me probably thinking I was some overprotective mother. And I'm really not. I'm pretty lax but I've read about kids being swept out to sea.

"Mommy, bye," Natalie said and started running out towards her Daddy and brother.

"STOP!" I bellowed, rushing behind her. I almost fell flat on my face.

Natalie did fall flat on her face and I watched in horror as waves crashed on top of her.

"Oh my GOD!" I screeched and ran at lightening speed towards her. I lifted her up and she coughed and spluttered.

"The ocean was mean," Natalie said matter-of-factly, but she wasn't crying.

With Natalie on my hip, I checked on Tom. He was still not close enough to Tommy.

"GET BESIDE TOMMY!" I tried again. "BESSSSIDDDDEEEE TOMMMMMMYYYYY!"

I suppose I could have walked out there but I was worried a wave would crash into us and I'd let go of Natalie.

I waved my free arm around, trying to get Tom's attention.

"MEGAN FOX!" I tried. Usually shouting the name always gets his attention. "Miranda Kerr!"

Nothing.

I thought I saw Tommy go under. Oh no! What would I do? Would my instinct cause me to set Natalie down so I could save Tommy? Or would I just stand there helplessly watching my first born bob around the ocean?

Oh my God.

As though Tom could hear the panic going through my mind, Tom turned around and faced me.

"STAND BY TOMMY!" I screamed.

Tom listened and moved closer to his son, who was okay. "I was pretty close already!" Tom shouted back.

So yeah.

The beach is fun.

But stressful with kids.

38 comments:

  1. Oh Amber, you make it so funny, but at the same time you capture the very real concern about wanting the kids to be safe. Sounds like you need a megaphone for getting Tom's attention.

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  2. I was laughing, but so anxious about the little ones being okay!!! OMG! I was so nervous while reading!!!! I'm glad everyone is safe and sound!

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  3. Undertow is the only downside to the beach. That, and the sharks, jelly fish, and little crabs that get your toes. Second thought, maybe I should just stick to the pool... -J

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  4. I was at a potluck over the weekend, with a ton of families, in a canyon. And the kids were just running around all over the place, while the parents were chatting. I basically had Amber Alert on speed dial. It's hard to keep track!

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  5. All vacations are stressful with kids. Hang in there and try to have fun.

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  6. I'm not sure if you and I would be a GOOD pair at the beach because everyone would be safe or if we'd be a BAD pair because we'd feed off of each other and make everyone crazy, but I feel you pain!

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  7. Whew, you're trying to relax at the beach, but I suppose there's no escaping some stress!

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  8. Yikes! Living so close to the ocean, you have no idea how often I want to run into the surf when I think someone's not paying attention to their kid. I watch 'em all like hawks even though none of them is mine.

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  9. *sigh* it's the "mother's curse." *Someone* has to watch over the children!

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  10. Oh goodness. Glad evryone made it out okay.

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  11. Oh dear lord, I would have died right there!!!

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  12. Ahhh, the joys of Mommy-angst. Don't ya just love that tug in your stomach and lump in your throat that can only be developed by the sick feeling you have because you think your kids are threatened. Ooo, so cool. #MAJORsarcasm

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  13. I'm the same way. I am probably overprotective, but I don't want to just stand around when something terrible happens!

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  14. You described the beach to a "T". Let's face it. Men don't have a flipping clue.

    Is there an age limit to kids wearing water wings? Ha!

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  15. You do make it sound funny, but you're completely right not to take anything for granted. You could never live with yourself if anything happened to them, especially if you refrained from shouting a warning to Tom, just so you didn't sound overprotective!

    Good Mama!

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  16. This is why moms should get a vacation after vacations.

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  17. I feel your pain. I used to get the same way when Phin would walk Moochie across a street. He'd kinda be holding her hand, but it was more she was holding his, or he'd be right beside her, but she could just dart out, just lose focus for a second and dart into traffic. I'd tell him to get a better hold on her and I'd get "you think I don't know how to watch my own children blah, blah". Yeah, just because the other two managed to grow up uscathed doesn't mean this particular kid with impulse control issues and poor coordination's going to do the same. HOLD THE KID. Yup, I feel your pain. And the ocean's a lot meaner than a dinky little street.

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  18. Ack. That is why there will be NO BEACH trips for our family until my kid can swim like Esther Williams or Michael Phelps. Water makes me nervous.

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  19. Oh man, you had my heart racing! I could feel that fear with you! I'm the exact same way!

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  20. Yep, the beach will be fun again in about fifteen years, when all the kids are grown.

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  21. Yep. I almost lost our first one to a wave when he was 18 months. Scarey shit. Hadn't even had a chance to get insurance on him yet.

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  22. Oh man! My future kids would probably drown with my own lack of focus!

    You go girl!

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  23. A mother's work is never done. Beach days can be the scariest days of our mother moments... Mine are all grown up now and I STILL watch them like a mamma hawk when they are in the ocean. Then, once everyone is safely back at the house, showered and moisturized? I have myself a Mom Marguarita!

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  24. We went to the beach all the time as kids (I think the youngest I remember was 8 yrs old) but I always had an older sibling near by. It can be fun...but also crazy stressful!!

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  25. Hilarious... I mean the story not the fact that your kids could get swept out to see. Maybe you should get a whistle or something to get your husband's attention.

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  26. Sounds like a typical day at the beach! At least Tom got closer to Tommy, Finally! Enjoy!

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  27. lol.. i'm already paranoid enough when it comes to the ocean.. if i had kids.. i couldn't even imagine!

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  28. Yeah, a life guard whistle would be good - or even a bullhorn...

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  29. Now before you start thinking I'm a crazy cat lady but with dogs, Alex is the same way. He takes the dogs someplace and just looks off daydreaming about Angelina Jolie or something and doesn't notice that the dogs are chasing ducks into the bay and actually swimming out after them, or eating the remains of some dead critter (at least I hope they were dead to begin with), or chasing a little fluffy cat with murder and mayhem on their minds, or trying to commit dogacide by jumping of the side of a 100 foot cliff. I scream for him till I turn blue, but he isn't paying attention. Damn Angelina.

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  30. I don't understand how some mom's can be so relaxed at the beach.

    Totally not me.

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  31. Isn't is amazing how calm some fathers can be when their kids are in mortal danger? Glad that Tommy was okay!

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  32. Why do the husband's have to say things like that. They think they are "clarifying," but really they are only sucking the life force energy out of us slowly.

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  33. I'm glad you all survived the adventure! :)

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  34. *a big sigh* Glad everything turned out ok.

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  35. Man! I got nervous just reading that. Glad all is well. Life jackets, next time?

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  36. Evan at the pool I'm constantly having to remind my hubby, "Arm's length away!" because he's busy bobbing around and people watching instead of keeping on eye on his kids who can't swim. I totally get your concern!

    BTW, just gave you an award. Come and check it out!

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