Agg, I’m feeling a little bit crazy and there is one little boy that is the cause of it.
The truth is… I hate taking Isaac places. He has to be strapped down all the time. Watched all the time. He is not safe.
I had a new babysitter on Friday. I told her specifically to keep an eye on Isaac because he will escape. When we returned home she was brave enough to tell me that he had escaped and a neighbor had brought him back.
I’ve thought about putting Emma in swim lessons. I know she’d love it but the thought of sitting at a pool with Isaac seems absolutely impossible. He can hardly handle the 10 minute safety check at the pool. “Water! Water! I must be in the water!” He is constantly twisting and turning in my arms.
I went swimming 5 times this last week (what can I say, I didn’t have much else to do.) Isaac has turned up the craziness to notch 100. It is no where near relaxing to go to the pool. I usually leave completely exhausted. I have to keep 100% attention on Isaac at all times. Otherwise he is just not going to make it. I’ve even let him get stuck in the deep water to see if he’d learn is lesson. Nope. He loves it. He is way to comfortable in there. He loves to go under water… he just has no skills to get himself out. I swear he has drank half the pool. No amount of coughing and sputtering is going to knock sense into this boy.
I can’t even explain to you his craziness. Jump, jump, jump, jump. That is all he wants to do. Jump in the deep end, jump in the shallow end. He is all over the place. I look around and see no other child acting like him. Turn you back on him for 2 seconds and he’ll be under the water. I am serious. Can you understand me? He will scream, flail his arms, steal others toys, run and jump. Ahhh!! He never stops.
Emma is really great at the pool. She loves her pink life jacket from costco and cruises around all by herself. At times she’ll want to play dolphins or mermaids. “Pretend you see a mermaid swimming by you.” I’ll give a small attempt “Ooh, look a mermaid!” and then run off to protect Isaac’s life. Emma then acts starved for attention. “Why are you playing so much with Isaac? You don’t love me.” and off she will go to sulk. I’ve tried to explain to her that I need to keep Isaac safe. She’ll just keep saying that I love Isaac more than her. Grrr…
On Saturday I had Jeremy come to the pool with us. Earlier that week he has said, “If I was a stay at home mom, I’d spend every day at the pool. That would be the life.” I looked at him and rolled my eyes. I am sure he was imagining me lounging by the side of pool, soaking up a ton of unhealthy sun and sipping on a lemon aid slushy.
“You just wait!”
Jer didn’t last 10 minutes. I made sure he had time all alone with Isaac and Emma just so he would know how if felt to handle the both of them. He looked at me franticly and motioned for me to come over and help. He couldn’t believe the things Isaac was doing. “How do we teach him that we have to hold him in the deep end or else he will drowned?”  “You figure it out and let me know.” He let Isaac go and the little boy sunk to the bottom. After a few short seconds he pulled him up. Isaac giggled and said “Momma, bubble!” He was so proud of himself for blowing a bubble under the water. We looked at each other and sighed. “It’s going to be a long summer.”
It is hard not to ask myself what have I done to the little guy? Why is he so crazy? What can I do to change this? Anyone who may think that it is me… I’d love for them to take him. Just for day. Lets see if they can survive!
My name is Manda and I love creating 
I totally understand! My almost 3 year old son, is the same way! He needs a constant eye on him where ever we go. When we’re at home, he becomes my shadow and follows me everywhere while I’m trying to help crying babies, get some things done, or just trying to relax for a moment. My husband claims that he would have no problems if he stayed home with the kids… All I have to say is he wouldn’t last a day!
I realize it’s no consolation to you and Jeremy now, but with all of this energy, just think of the places this kid will go (if he survives his childhood, of course). How many people giggle after nearly drowning? Talk about a zest for life.
And just think — maybe you guys are paying it forward, and his teenage years are going to be a breeze . . . .
Honestly, I think it’s just a boy thing. My son is the oldest of all four kids and MY GOD the things that kid put me through. He still is very energetic and will wear us out, but now we look at the girls and reflect on how “mellow” they are. At least he makes his sisters normal in comparison and I thank my lucky stars it’s just one boy and not four.
Oh, I can sooo relate to your post! That was totally me about 2 years ago. Ian was exactly like that. I dreaded taking him places because I knew it would be exhausting for me. Before he turned 3 he had stitches twice, a dislocated elbow 3 or 4 times, and multiple breath holding spells from getting hurt. I used to look at other people with their calm children and be so jealous. But there is hope! For us, it has gotten so much easier. The last year or so, Ian has really calmed down. I can trust him not to run out into the road now. We can go places without worrying about losing him. It really has gotten a lot better. Hopefully Issac will keep calming down for you too!
Ooooo, I’m so sorry. Just reading your post made me tired. I wish that I had something helpful to say. Maybe he should be the one you put in swimming lessons, or does a life jacket help at all? What a cutie though. Seriously, he really is just as adventurous as his momma and pop. I’m sure his energy will get focused sometime soon.
Alright. You’ve convinced me. I will no longer complain about my 3 children being so scared in the water. Reas and I would often think, “what do we do to show them that the water isn’t so scary?” Now I’m pretty sure I’ll just be grateful that they’re not like Isaac in the water. good luck. And I’d teach him to swim ASAP!!!
Oh no…i don’t even really like to go in the water at the pool…lets hope Parker doesn’t learn that from his cousin Isaac…PS I love the pool, maybe we could tag team him!
I just downloaded some templates from you (thanks!) and saw this post. Don’t despair, it WILL get better. It’s exhausting, but it would be worse if you had a little boy who was afraid of everything and had no energy. Just keep telling yourself that kids grow up fast (and they do!)
Ah that is tough. One time I took 7 kids to the zoo by myself. What was I thinking?? I don’t know. But watching 7 kids probably felt like watching 1 Isaac. So Cheryl and I are thinking of going to 7 Peaks next week and want to invite you but maybe you might no want to go. Let me know. We are trying to think of a good day.
Typical male!! It’s funny how Craig gets frustrated when we’re with the kids on the weekend or in the evening. To me, it’s so relaxing because there are two sets of hands. It’s all about perspective. I can totally picture Jeremy motioning for help. Once again, I get that from Craig too.
I am tellin ya! Come over and enjoy my caged in play land and water slide…LOL….The times I have taken my boys to the pool there is a person for each kid. I simply know I couldn’t handle it. You know Bridgers a runner and all well ..anyway….its true, with every week that passes they seem less crazy. Still busy mind you….but less panic going on. heehee…call or come over we are going out right now!!
bye,
AUNTIE D
I’m in tears after reading your post about Isaac… and I feel your pain! My youngest son is 18 months old and sounds JUST LIKE HIM! He WILL escape, he WILL jump in, and he has NO fear! I do not think it’s you … but possibly second child syndrome.
hope the rest of your summer is less stressful!
~Steph