Tag Archives: pool

Hitting the Pool with a Toddler

I used to think watching a naked toddler run around a swimming pool was cute. Of course, that was when it was my kid baring it all and not a stranger’s tot trotting around in his birthday suit relieving himself in the same water my family’s swimming in. Due to the serious nature of wading in a pool contaminated with human stool, it’s vital your toddler be clad properly. If your toddler is not potty trained you will want to invest in swim diapers before you head to the pool.  Regular diapers may fit snugly around his thighs and waist, … Continue reading →

Dive Into Summer Fun

Contending with rising temperatures doesn’t have to be a summer bummer.  With a little planning you can have fun beating the heat without busting your budget. Splash into the season with a pool party to remember; only instead of draining your wallet on expensive invitations and activities, consider these affordable options: DIY FISH INVITATIONS Download a fish template from the Internet or free-hand one on construction paper and cut out the center of it.  When you are done, you should have a fish-shaped frame and a smaller paper fish.  Place the frame on the sticky side of clear contact paper. … Continue reading →

Indoor Swimming Pool

My toddler daughter and I attended the third birthday party of her twin friends recently. The party was at a community center with an incredible indoor pool. The shallow end didn’t have a drop; it was a shoreline like being at the beach. When Jessie saw the water she was going to go right in fully dressed. I had to stop her from getting her clothes wet and she still went in with her shoes on. We went into the party room long enough to say hi to all my friends, especially the hosts, and drop off the baby before … Continue reading →

Toddler’s First Birthday

One of my daughter’s young friends officially entered toddler-dom. Today my daughter and I went to our friends’ house to celebrate their youngest turning one. The venue was perfect for the seven toddlers in attendance. The bounce house should have been a big hit, but the toddler pool and sprinkler held far more amusement. I couldn’t help but remember my daughter’s first birthday party. Jessie joined our family two months before her first birthday. We invited all of our friends over to the house and ate pizza. All the children played together with Jessie’s toys. Jessie and a friend’s three-year-old … Continue reading →

A Mother’s View from the Pool: Why are you Wearing Crocs in the Water?

There’s a fierce debate going on in cyberspace regarding whether “fashionable” people should be wearing Crocs—those plastic clog-like shoes that come in an array of bright colors—in public. I’ll leave that bitter battle to others. However, the popular footwear does play prominently in observations I’ve made this summer as a mom frequenting our local aquatic center. As I mentioned in my previous blog my 4-year-old daughter is learning to swim, thus we have spent quite a bit of time at our community pool in the last 12 weeks. In that time I’ve had the opportunity to view interesting parenting techniques. … Continue reading →

A Mother’s View from the Pool

When you take your young child to a public pool do you: A.) Kick back in a chair and dig into a pile of PEOPLE magazines B.) Watch your child like a hawk especially since he doesn’t know how to swim C.) Turn over babysitting duties to older siblings so you can return calls on your cellphone? If you frequent community pools in my city you would find that the majority of parents would choose A or C (if they were answering honestly). For the past 12 weeks my 4-year-old daughter and I have made near daily trips to our … Continue reading →

Is Pool Chlorine Bad for You?

I don’t want to put a damper on your summer fun… but that chlorine in your pool is a pretty powerful chemical. Chlorine can be highly irritating to the skin, eyes, and respiratory tract if not diluted. The upside of chlorine: this chemical helps disinfect the pool water. It helps curb algae growth and keep bacteria under control. Swimming in a contaminated pool can be dangerous to your health! The downsides of chlorine: A 2006 study found that children who are prone to asthma are at increased risk of developing the disease if they swim regularly in an indoor chlorinated … Continue reading →

What do you look for in a Hotel?

Do you insist on getting complimentary breakfast or would you give up the free bagel for free in-room wireless Internet access? If you rather stay at a hotel that gives out complimentary waffles and OJ in the morning you might have to look a bit harder these days, according to a recent survey of 10,000 hotels conducted for the American Hotel & Lodging Association. The study also found this irony: the more you pay for your room, the less likely you are to get free Wi-Fi. Wireless Internet access is being offered by 91% of hotels, up 35% from four … Continue reading →

Musings on an 18th Birthday

My eldest child turns 18 today. It is a strange, momentous occasion for the both of us. Last night when I was talking to her I said, “It’s not every day that a person turns 18!” and she countered with, “Well, in fact it IS everyday that people turn 18.” Of course I meant that it was not every day that SHE turned 18 or that one of my children turned 18, but she had a bit more of a global perspective on things. Regardless, neither one of us can ignore that this one is a very big deal. When … Continue reading →

Build a Pool-Side Cabana

One of the coolest things that our neighbors have is a little pool-side cabana. It is great for entertaining. The family and their guests can spend hours by the pool without any need to ever go inside the house. Not only does this add to the fun, but it keeps their house nice and tidy, free from dripping water. A pool-side cabana can be large or small. It can act as a simple changing area, or a complete kitchen stocked with food, drinks and even a kitchen sink. You can also build a cabana that functions somewhere in between, such … Continue reading →