Motherhood and the Swiming Pool

Yesterday, while at the swimming pool with my girls, I realized you can learn a whole lot about motherhood from that place.  For starters, I always feel a tinge of guilt when I think of Mate stuck at work, while we're playing at the pool.  I look around at the other mothers and wonder if they ever feel that way, too.  Then, I take a closer look and the guilt subsides just a little because of this:

1. Post-baby bodies.  I imagine so many of us have traded in bikinis for something that will hide stretch marks or cesarean scars or tummies that just don't look like they used to. 

2. Exhaustion.  Sure, sunglasses are for shading our eyes, but they come with a bonus: maybe no one will notice how tired we look, today.

3. The weight of it all.  Mothers juggling beach bags, pool toys, lunch boxes and children serve as a reminder of just how much we are responsible for on a daily basis. 

4. Humility.  We apologize to each other when our kiddo's splash is just a little too big or when one of us gets pelted by a poorly aimed ball.  More importantly, we exchange the look that says, I've been there before; you're doing great.  Nothing humbles you like motherhood.   

5. Comradery.  We share pool toys because our children inevitably want everything except what we brought.  We offer each other help when one of our children has to get to the bathroom or another is drifting dangerously close to the deep end.  We make small talk because motherhood can be lonely. 

It really is all on display at the swimming pool.