Cabana Moms

Let me preface this by saying that if you're one of these moms, I won't even apologise for offending you because you deserve it. Yesterday, Caroline and I, for at least the second time, had our relaxing time at the pool interrupted by other people's children. I don't understand this - on so many levels. First of all, it is just common courtesy to notice that, if your children are clearly bothering people, you should remove them from the situation. I know, I know, big words coming from the mother of the Dining Room Screamer, but we're getting there. Regardless, I'm talking about other people in this post, not me! Anyway, here we are, in the pool, trying to play with our boys when this, admittedly precious, 3 or 4 year old, comes over to play. OK. No problem. We'd love for you to play with us for a little bit. Then his older sister comes over. Then they start kicking and splashing right in the middle of us. Then they start interrupting us to talk to us as we are trying to get some good girl talk in. Then they start fighting with each other! I whisper to Caroline, "Where is the mother?" She points her out, lounging in a chair, sunglasses on and reading her book. Well great! I'm glad we could come to the pool today to babysit your children while you enjoy some down time! And don't tell me you didn't notice it because we both saw you look at us, and you couldn't have not seen the exasperated looks on our faces. Yes, we were exasperated with YOUR children!
Finally, they left, and we relaxed, only to be joined within 30 seconds by another adorable 4 year old on a noodle. I don't know what it is about us. Maybe we're just glowing, or maybe these kids see us and want to be near us, or maybe, and I think this is the real reason, maybe their mothers are too lazy to actually get in the pool with them, and the children just want a little grown up contact with them in this pool because maybe, although they can technically "swim", maybe they just don't feel SO confident and want Mommy there just in case something bad happens. Particularly the last girl, who was there all by herself save for her mother, who had on an "interesting" bikini and Daisy Dukes with the button undone. Classy. Come to think of it, maybe this girl was just testing out new mothers because, even at 4 her mother was an embarassment to her. I must point out that, like the other mother, this one was in a lounge chair, reading. This led Caroline to point out that neither one of us are sure at what age we will be able to go to the "No Lifeguard on Duty" pool, toss our children in, then obliviously read for the rest of the afternoon. Maybe around 7 or 8, but certainly not at 4. It doesn't take but a blink for a child to disappear beneath the surface, and I can't imagine losing a child because I just had to finish that last chapter.
It really ticks me off that not only were we responsible for our own children, but yesterday, because of the laissez faire parenting of these two, we felt responsible for the welfare of their children as well. Now, I understand wanting to sit by the pool and read, particularly in light of this final Harry Potter release, but when you've got kids, some things just have to be put on the back burner. It's lovely to be a Cabana Mom, but unless your kids are bringing you fruity drinks with umbrellas in them and not bothering anyone other than the bartender, get in the pool and spend some time with them, and let the other mothers who are trying to do that, play in peace with their own children.