Life Jacket

[ladyringo]

So, I went to the little gym at our complex today for my first workout there. No big deal! The work out went well! I intended on cooling down in the pool, even though there were several children of varying ages. Now, I finished my workout, did a little weights to work on my rotator cuff, and went out to the pool to cool off. Out there were several

Comments

[hitchkitty]

My guess: Precisely because the parental carbon units aren't watching.

[ladyringo]

If I am ever such an inattentive parent, please feel free to smack me.

[teahound]

"So, anyway, can anybody explain to me why children that were old enough to know how to swim have to wear life jackets?"

"Also, what's up with the bored moms who can't even be bothered to WATCH their children in the pool let alone interact with them?"

I think you just answered your own question lol. But yeah, the lack of attention I see kids getting these days is kind of sad. Like, my bio-dad is visiting friends in Florida and is planning to borrow a portable DVD player and will have a bunch of gadgets for my nearly 10-year-old half-brother to play with and be distracted by on the trip. On the other hand, when I was around that age and went on long drives with him because my mom had custody? He and I talked. Pretty much the whole way, save for the times when I was tuckered out and napped. I feel kinda bad that having a kid on a long car ride is an inconvenience now instead of a good quality time opportunity. [/parallel tangent]

[ladyringo]

Yeah, I kinda realized that I had answered my own question... I just didn't want it to be the answer.

I remember long road trips when I was younger- we played mad libs, find all 50 states in license plates, punch bug and all of those other lame family games. We also listened to a George Michael CD so many times I can't really listen to it any more. This was WAY before the advent of DVDs in cars and such.

Modern parenting gives me a headache...

[teahound]

Agreed. At times I can't tell if I should be envious or grateful, because (even though I'm the eldest) all my stuff is handed down like my laptop, and I've had my classic iPod since graduating HS in 2007.

On the other hand my sister (14) is on her second laptop, both were new gifts from my parents, and on her like, 4th iPod. Now she didn't ASK for any of this stuff, and for the most part I feel she earned them because she's a good student and my parents see her managing her allowance well and saving for things. It's still mildly grating though since I didn't even get an allowance. On the same note my other sister (9) got said sister's first laptop, and is on her 3rd iPod, all of which were also bought new for her. Both of them also have DSi's of their own. And while I'm proud to say both my sisters are WONDERFUL kids and my parents did an awesome job on it, I also wonder how getting all this rad stuff will affect them down the road.

Jeeze, I'm just ramble-city today. xD I'm sorry!

[spottedpegasus]

Really, I have no clue. I can sort of argue it both ways as I grew up with both of my parents in water recovery. Normally I would say it probably depends on the individual swimming and their parent but the not paying attention to the children is teeth grinding worthy.

[hunter_green]

Maybe they were still learning?

I didn't figure out how to swim until like 8 or 9