Saturday, April 19, 2008

Why I'll never win "Mother of the Year"

The other day I put Ava in the bathtub in our bathroom, she needed a bath and I needed to clean so I figured it was a win/win situation. She's taken a bath in there before, and other than the fact that it's shaped different and quite a bit larger I wasn't worried about her. She was always in my view. I peeled off for a minute to pee, (the toilet is a mere 5 feet from the tub, but in a separate room ) I didn't hear the splashing that I had heard before, and as soon as I peeked out my heart dropped. She was thrashing around, under water. The image that will haunt me is her eyes wide open, her mouth gasping for air, and her arms and legs trying to get to get to a position where she could support herself. I immediately yanked her by the arm out of the water, unafraid of the fact that I could have pulled her shoulder out of socket. I didn't even dry her off and I just held her so tight and we cried together. I shouldn't have, because my crying was a dead giveaway to her that what just happened was BAD. She couldn't have been under water for more than 5 seconds, and I'm not sure how she got there unless she just slipped, but it scared the living shit out of me. I pulled myself together, she recovered pretty quickly, in fact she was laughing as I was getting her dressed. It happened to be close enough to her nap time that I laid her down (after I knew for a fact she was okay) and went to my room and lost it.

The part that really bothers me is that something similar happened to me when I was 3. I don't remember much about my early years, but I remember this day like it was yesterday. I even remember what color my outfit was. We were getting ready to leave the pool for the day, and I was walking around the outside ledge waiting for my mom. My dad was with me, close by, but I slipped and fell straight into 9 feet of water. It wasn't 2 seconds that I was under before the lifeguards got me, but to this day my biggest fear of death is drowning. It's so bad that if there's a part of a TV show or movie that includes being submerged in water, I have to turn it off to avoid being thrown into a panic. The shows where they teach you how to escape if your car were to run into water are tattooed in the back of my brain. It's also unfortunately led me to be claustrophobic. Not bad enough that it controls my life, but makes me fearful nevertheless. I'm the girl that always knows where the exit is wherever we are, bar, restaurant, sporting event, hotel...yep I'm THAT girl.

I do think she's young enough and it's not going to have any lasting effect on her, and I even put her back in that bathtub the following day and all was fine, and I did not get up to pee this time.

On a lighter note, and since I'm so bad at posting, some pics from the following days.

Not really sure what she's doing here, but she looks damn cute doing it.

At the Blue/White Scrimmage Football Game today. We stayed all of 45 minutes and it was enough to let me know that she won't be attending any football games, this year at least.

One of many days spent at the park. God I love the park. Hours and hours of play = tired, tired child. Yes I realize she looks drunk in this pic, it's a phone pic and therefore not the greatest.

This ones another shot from my phone so again not the best but I took her to my best friends son's T-Ball game and she LOVED it. Here she is with my best friends other little boy, they sat here for at least an hour straight. I was in shock.

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

This happens all the time, to all sorts of GOOD Moms and Dads. Don't even worry about it. I am so glad to here she's fine.

These pictures are great.

Chastity said...

I'm tempted often to leave the bathroom while Lila's playing in the tub...this makes me glad that I haven't and teaches me that I never should. Good grief, I don't blame you for being scarred from that.

Anonymous said...

Don't beat yourself up about it. These things happen. I doubt she'll remember it at all. You're probably putting your feelings of water on her & that's making you feel worse. I'm sure it will be fine.

And, the pictures are adorable. Like you, we won't be attending spectator events anytime soon.

Wendy said...

Yikes...that is a scary thing to have happen! Loved all the photo updates:) She is adorable and getting so big!

Texasholly said...

Oh my gosh, how scarey! I'll admit it, I have gone into the next room while Ellie is happily playing in the tub. I just listen to her talking and splashing away. After reading your post, I think I'll stay in there with her!

TEACHBROECK said...

VERY SCARY! It happens! Even mother's pee....She probably has already forgotten about it!

Sara said...

I had a scare like that when Anna was a baby...she found a piece of something on the floor and started choking...scared the CRAP out of me. It makes you think about how careful you have to be - even when they get bigger.

You are a great mommy!

Jaimie said...

The pictures are so cute! Even if you were in the room, even if you were sitting on the floor right next to her, even if you had your hands in the water with her, she still could have slipped. It happens. You got her out. She probably is too young to remember for the rest of her life. It certainly sounds like it scared you more than it did her! You aren't a bad mom.

Anonymous said...

Poor Ava!! She is ok though and that's all that matters. Don't be so hard on yourself! Adorable pics!

Unknown said...

Hi Becca, don't feel bad! The EXACT thing happened to my best friend and her daughter. It was heartbreakingly scary, but she swears it made her all the more vigilant about watching her little girl... and her sharing her story made ME so much more vigilant! I also have the bad habit of cleaning while Amelia bathes, and now I try to pay more attention at all times!!

Kirsten said...

That had to be so scary...unfortunately, I have already had a couple of those incidents myself and my girls are only 9 months!! One time was when Chayse nearly rolled off our bed (which would have been about a 3-4 foot drop) and I will never forget how my breath caught and stomach dropped. She had no idea what happened but it was all I could do to keep from bawling over the thought of what could have happened. I'm glad she had a quick recovery!
The pictures are adorable :)

Anonymous said...

I am so sorry! I can't even imagine how terrifying that must have been for you.

We have ALL done it, so don't even feel bad about it. Most of us are just lucky enough that our kids didn't slip like yours did.

But I guess when they get a little older, we figure that they've been fine in the tub all this time with nothing happening, so we get a little lax.

I'm just glad you're both ok!

Nellie said...

Oh my, how scary... I always do stuff while Ellie is in the tub. I just should not do that anymore. Thank you for giving me a wake up call. I needed it.

Anonymous said...

I am so scared of this happening. I don't know CPR or anything. I'm so bad I don't fill the bath tub up. I just dump the water on them with a cup!

I've learned to always pee before bathtime and outings. My kids always get in trouble when I'm peeing. It's like a signal for them to get my blood pressure up! ; )

I'm glad to hear she's okay.