Thursday, July 20, 2006

Fool's Paradise

I've written quite a few safety-related posts lately. Then my neighbor started calling me "safety mom," and I sense it's not meant as a compliment, but more of a "You're freaking insane, woman, lighten up," kind of statement.

I earn the title, though. At first, I tried to assure my neighbor that I'm not a paranoid fraidy cat when it comes to my kids' safety, but as I looked around my yard yesterday with some trepidation, I realized that yeah, I'm paranoid. And a fraidy cat. Click on the picture to see the hidden dangers I see lurking back there.

Backyard paradise, or trauma central?

For all of you that mentioned a fence in my swimming pool post: Brian and I have been debating (read: fighting) about this one for years, and guess what? The pool incident tipped the scales in my favor. New fence coming soon!

5 comments:

mom of 2 said...

I have to admit I'm a paranoid mom as well! I have a friend who pokes fun at me for it, but it doesn't bother me. I'm pretty much a safety nut and I can't help it!!

I loved all of the dangers you saw in your back yard...seriously made me chuckle out loud!!

Thanks for a great post and a good laugh!! I'm so glad to know I'm not the only one!

Beachwriter said...

Great blog! I am enjoying the read.

Julie said...

I had to LOL Kris, 'cause I wrote a pro-fence comment on that post but it got eaten and I didn't have time to re-write it. ;)

I go back and forth too about whether I'm too overprotective...true, we all survived our horribly unsafe childhoods (years unrestrained in our parents' cars!!) but the world is a different place now that it was then too.

A few weeks ago I dropped off my daughter at a pool party, and I learned that the pool was a foot deeper than the one she goes to swimming lessons in. I really struggled with leaving her -- was she going to be okay? (She's not confident in the water at ALL.) Was there enough adult supervision? I let it go, and when I returned, my scared, never-even-floats-with-a-floaty or goes-in-water-deeper-than-her-shoulders daughter was swimming around, jumping in from the side of the pool, having a completel blast. I was so glad I let go...though initally it wasn't easy to do!

I know the next year is going to be full of horrifying moments like that, where I have to let go even when it scares the hell out of me. Sigh.

Love the picture too! ;)

THETHINKINGSQUARE said...

Sometimes I get nicknamed 'The Ranger' because I am always on the lookout for potential danger. I guess it's part of being a Mom.LOL

Prudence said...

Boy that makes me start to think how many things I could find im my 1/2 acre lot...YIKES...but I must say, the one about ben finding the mole and holding it and kissing it....LMBO!!!