Friends With FOP

Past summers I had been able to take the daycare kids on field trips (summer concerts, playgrounds, wading pools, and spray pools).  This year I knew we wouldn’t be able to b/c of the two new infants that enrolled in the daycare.  Just so happens that I had no infants on Friday.  All I had were Jaiden and Ayanna (siblings) from the daycare and Brennan, Larkin, and Erin.  We were going to a spray pool but then I found out I would be able to get tickets at Wild Waves for $10 a piece (that’s a steal compared to the $28 online ticket price). 

 The kids were so excited to go.  Although Alan wasn’t too keen on the idea.  I heard, “Don’t let her go any deeper than her knees.  She can’t lift her head.” “Don’t let her run.”  “Make sure she wears her helmet.” “Okay, just don’t…don’t…oh, don’t go to Wild Waves.”  I reassured him she would be okay.  It’s time for her to be a kid.  However, I learned a few things that day.

 Rule #1: Use the handicap placard!  We’ll definitely be going to the DOL next week to get that sign.  We had a nice long walk from the car to the gates.  Luckily Erin wanted to walk on her own.  That would have been a killer on my back to carry her.

Rule #2:  Watch Erin at all times.  This comes natural to me but my two eyes had to be on four other kids as well.  I am learning that Erin can gauge her own limitations.  She was careful to scope out the pools before she went in.  When she felt comfortable, that’s when she went in.  We had one incident where Erin and I were climbing the stairs in “Hook’s Lagoon” (the place in the picture above) when a big kid came running down the stairs and was pushing kids out of his way.  He managed to injure a little girl and nearly knocked over Erin but luckily I was there to be her buffer (and I am a pretty big buffer…LOL!).  “Hook’s Lagoon” is designed for little kids but bigger kids still managed to find their way onto the attraction.  Park employees made their way to me and asked if Erin was okay.  I felt better knowing that someone saw the incident.  We have to be extra careful.  Big kids can just plow over little ones. 

Erin had a great time that day.  Her and Jaiden hung out with me in the shallow end of the wave pool.  We were stepping over the waves as they crashed.  I also learned not to use Water Babies sunscreen.  Erin and I burnt the worst.  Poor little thing developed blisters on her left shoulder on Saturday night.  I cannot believe I burned so bad using SPF 45.  The two of us have been swimming in Noxema since Friday.