With the Big Kids

The deep end of the pool seems like such a good time. There you see the bottom of the pool so far away, still clear though and it's so very exciting. Just off to the side is the high dive where all the seemingly fearless older kids jump, flip, flop and splash into the water from. All the big kids laugh, yell and scream to each other, it seems like such fun. So you get off of the steps in the little kids part of the pool and wander over to the high dive, climb the ladder all the way to the top, tip toe out to the end of the diving board and just jump. The funny thing is, you never learned to swim, that's why you were on the steps in the first place.

It's okay though, you invited your friend who does know how to swim. He grasps for you to help hold your head above water and teach you to kick your feet to stay up, and you kick. For a few minutes you were swimming in the deep water that looked so fun, but you were always afraid to swim in. Then all those fears from before entered and you panicked, flailing and kicking your way out of the pool, all the while pushing your friend farther under the water in the deep end. As you dried yourself and calmed your fear, he reached for a hand.

Always wanting to play with the big kids proves to be not nearly as glamorous as one would think. Some friendly advice to all of us, before you jump in the water learn to swim and before you try to teach someone to swim, make sure they want to learn.