Pools & Potty Training: Stop while you’re ahead.

Keeping life fab after babies requires rules (at least that’s what’s working for me). Some rules have been passed down (from my own mom’s experience and wisdom) and some rules are wacky-but-wise concepts that I’ve personally invented from my own trials-and-errors. Don’t leave the house without sippy-cups filled with water. Don’t take the girls to the market unless everyone is already fed and napped. Don’t push your limits too much and STOP WHILE YOU’RE AHEAD. I seemed to forget that last one recently…. something that no mom should forget when it comes to pools & potty training.

Yes. That’s CAUTION tape.

Let’s just say we were recently at a pool-playdate with some of my most favorite mom-friends. Let’s just say that LadyP has been almost-impeccably potty-trained as of the last three weeks (trust me, I’m just as shocked as anybody considering our history). Let’s just say that, on this particular day, I decided to fearlessly test a no-swim-diaper-needed-anymore-at-all policy on her. Let’s just say that, based on how *wonky* and *unfocused* my kids turn when it’s significantly-past their regular nap time, I should’ve dried everyone off right after lunch, said thank-you and good-bye and headed home for our regular nap time around 1:30. Let’s just say I didn’t (even though I knew better).

Just as 2pm rolled around and we were in the after-lunch round of splashing in the water, I caught LadyP’s expression change from gleeful to scared from a few feet away. She suddenly rushed to stand on the pool’s steps for about 3 seconds (body out of water), then hurriedly got out of the pool and stood on the pavement with a worried little face. $hit. I knew where this was going. 

“What’s wrong sweetheart?” “Mommy…. I….” Yup. It was what I thought. $hit. My eyes searched the water where she was swimming a few seconds ago. No floaters or anything, but it was what it was. (You get me?) We swiftly, quietly, gracefully (and hopefully, fabulously?) whisked our dripping-wet bodies away to the restrooms to get cleaned up before anyone got wise to us (a dripping LilMiss hanging and complaining in my left arm).

Well, apparently someone was wise to us: Because the country club evacuated and shut down the pool (this time, The Guys were real). No big deal. It happened (as I’m sure it’s happened to someone else there before, and it will happen to someone else there again). But I coulda done without having to sanitize little pink bikini bottoms that day.

REMINDER: STOP WHILE YOU’RE AHEAD. STOP WHILE YOU’RE AHEAD. STOP WHILE YOU’RE AHEAD. Maybe I’ll remember now?

DO YOU HAVE RULES THAT KEEP YOUR LIFE-AFTER-BABIES ON TRACK?