Fell in ...

I wish I could have laughed about it in the moment. But no, not me, I was infuriated. He fell in ... seriously, fell in the water! He wasn't listening. That's all that ran through my brain ... HE DIDN'T LISTEN (again.) My mom had to remind me, "Anna, at least he's ok and didn't fall in the pool. And Paul was there. And he only fell in the jacuzzi." BUT all I could do was be mad and think, Maxwell, you didn't listen to the directions we gave you. Because I know my little man is so smart and can almost recite verbatim what you say ... I think it makes the "not listening" so much harder. He told me exactly how many times Paul told him to not walk on the tile. He told me how many times I told him to stay away from the water and just watch. Either way ... he fell in. How does the saying go? "Curiosity kills the cat." There is a waterfall wall which separates my parents pool from the jacuzzi. Their pool guy, Paul, was cleaning today and Maxwell wanted to "watch." The directions were very clear "Maxwell, do not touch, do not help, you can only watch Paul. Stay AWAY from the water." "Ok mom." Well, apparently that little "bridge" was all too tempting to try and feat. I remember being a kid and walking back and forth on those tiles but I knew how to swim. I remember my mom and dad saying not to "walkin on the tile," simple because they feared us falling in the water. But the excitement to conquer the little bridge without falling in was so much more exciting. I think this excitement it what will get my little man into trouble so many of times. As he walked acorse this little bridge twice .. he didn't make it the second time. He fell in the jacuzzi. Luckily it was just the jacuzzi! Had it been the pool, I might have cried. Maybe I was so mad and frustrated because it really was fear ... fear that something so much worse could have happened. And I couldn't help but be mad at myself. I trusted Maxwell, but maybe I shouldn't have put so much trust in a 4 year old. In the end, I am thankful ... thankful for Paul, who was there to drag him out soaking wet. Thankful I get to kiss my little man good-night because he "fell in."