Sweet P and I breezed over to a local swimming hole today to fit in one more "beach" trip while the weather is still good. We've enjoyed several afternoons there over the past months. It's a great fit for us because it's a short drive from home, offers a playground & picnic area, the beach is sandy and the lake is spring fed, therefore generally crystal clear and fresh feeling.
However, during our trips I always find myself feeling dumbstruck at the number of parents that do not supervise their children while they play in the water. "I hate to tell you lady, but that life jacket isn't an insurance policy that your 4 year old won't drown while you take a siesta up on the beach. And I wouldn't put too much stake in the seventeen year old life guards laughing up in the guard house either." Am I over protective? Perhaps, but I'm not an idiot either. If Sweet P is past the knees you better believe that I am in that water within an arms reach.
Too often kids will ask to join us in play, and their parents are half way from here to Indiana away. There are always young kids running around that you never match up with an adult figure (did they drop them off?). Today, I got to "entertain" a little boy while his mom/caregiver? talked on the phone, texted, fiddled with a CD player, and enjoyed a nap. "Gee lady, glad you had a chance to relax while I tried to keep junior out of the deep water!"
I always find this situation troublesome. "Listen, you irresponsible parents, it's not my job to watch your kid, but if I don't who will?" Well reader - help me out here. How would YOU handle this troublesome, and potentially dangerous, situation?
It's sickening isn't it? Unfortunately in that situation there is no way to learn a lesson until it's too late.
ReplyDeleteAnother thought: What if you were some Creepy Pete? Water aside, not paying attention to your child is ripe with opportunity for them to be taken advantage of my someone else.
ReplyDeleteIf some small child latched onto you and C, I'd be just passive aggressive enough to say loudly while pointing to his/her parent on the beach and say, "Is it okay with your mom that you play with us by yourself in the deeper water?"
Also, I've wondered this same thing at our pool. A pool that while equipped with three lifeguards for one small area, is literally "boiling" with small kids falling over each other. When it's that busy, it doesn't take for a little head to disappear dangerously--especially if the parent isn't paying attention.