Mom! Get your hair wet!!

My son said these startling words to me recently as we were splashing around in a pool while on vacation. You see, I had recently committed to stop being the mom who sits on the sidelines while everyone else is having fun. I would be an active parent! I promised myself that I would stop watching the action, and start experiencing the action!

After spending the last 14 years raising 5 kids from baby to toddler to preschooler (and so on), I had grown accustomed to being in “child minding” mode. Sitting by the pool helping get snacks, applying sunscreen, taking kids for a bathroom break. Any free moment was spent trying to sneak a look at my phone or read a few pages in a book. Once my kids got a little older I had a decision to make. I could continue to sit by the side of the (metaphorical) pool, or I could jump in, feet first.

I was proud of myself for choosing the latter. I was going to play with my kids in the pool! I was going to show them how fun I could be, or how fun I used to be, before becoming a responsible adult. I was proud of myself, until my son said the accusing words. “Mom! Get your hair wet!!”

Now I have to decide; am I really committed? I took my sunglasses off and decided, that the parent I wanted to be wasn’t a “sit by the poolside” parent, or even a “dip my toes in the water” parent. I want to be a “face-plant off the side of the pool into the water” parent. I want my kids to jump into life the same way. Committed. Deliberate. And full of joy!