What I learned from taking my son to a pool day [ENG-ESP]

Hace unos días, por el Carnaval, llevé a mi hijo a un día de piscina. Más allá de entender que el protector solar es importante, y que era mala idea dejarle el pañal puesto, comprendí dos cosas como madre. Se me ocurrió compartirlas con ustedes.

A few days ago, for Carnival, I took my son to a day at the pool. Beyond understanding that sunscreen is important, and that it was a bad idea to leave his diaper on, I understood several things as a mother. I thought I would share them with you.

Era la primera vez que Dorian, mi bebé de un año y cuatro meses, veía una piscina. Aunque él ama el agua.

Cada vez que ve un balde, una bañera, un charco o una llave de agua, corre a buscarla, a chapotear y a mojarse. Siempre se divierte cuando hay agua de por medio.

Incluso, cuando le doy agua, intenta meter su mano al vaso para sacar agua y mojarse. Además, casi siempre quiere entrar a la ducha, para abrir la llave y jugar. Creo que todos los niños son así o no sé si Dorian tenga algo especial con el agua.

Pero, cuando vi la invitación por parte de la empresa donde mi papá trabaja, para un día de piscina en un club para los trabajadores, pensé en la cara de mi hijo al ver el agua y dije: "¡Vamos mañana mismo!".

Así fue y como mamá primeriza que sacaba a su bebé por primera vez a un lugar con mucha gente, aprendí muchísimas cosas de golpe.

It was the first time Dorian, my one year and four month old baby, had ever seen a swimming pool. He loves water, though.

Whenever he sees a bucket, a bathtub, a puddle or a faucet of water, he runs to get it, splash and get wet. He always has fun when water is involved.

Even when I give him water, he tries to put his hand in the glass to get water and get wet. Also, he almost always wants to get in the shower, to turn on the faucet and play. I think all kids are like that or I don't know if Dorian has something special with water.

But, when I saw the invitation from the company where my dad works, for a pool day at a club for the workers, I thought of my son's face when he saw the water and said, "Let's go tomorrow!".

And so it was, and as a new mom taking her baby out for the first time in a crowded place, I learned a lot of things all at once.

1.- Confía en tus hijos

Me pasó algo estremecedor. Recién llegábamos y estábamos sentados en la mesa desayunando. Mi familia había comprado tequeños. Él estaba comiendo y, en la mesa más cercana, estaba otro niño como de tres años comiendo tequeño y mirándonos con curiosidad.

Dorian lo vio y comenzó a caminar hacia él. Yo enseguida lo seguí y lo agarré antes de que terminara de extender su brazo.

Pensé que iba a quitarle el tequeño, pero en su voz tierna y dulce solo le dijo al niño: "Hola".

Mi hijo no habla perfectamente, solo dice algunas palabras y "Hola", es una de ellas, que acompaña del movimiento de la mano.

Dorian solo iba a saludar al niño, no a quitarle el tequeño y me sentí horrible por no confiar en él.

Luego pensé: "¿Por qué iba a ir a quitárselo si nunca le hemos enseñado eso? Solo le he enseñado a saludar a las personas. Tenía más sentido que lo saludara."

Pero, estaba nerviosa por tener a Dorian entre tantas personas.

Desconfiar de Dorian es desconfiar de mí misma.

Trust your children.

Something shocking happened to me. We had just arrived and were sitting at the table having breakfast. My family had bought tequeños. He was eating and, at the nearest table, there was another boy about three years old eating tequeño and looking at us curiously.

Dorian saw him and started walking towards him. I immediately followed him and grabbed him before he finished extending his arm.

I thought he was going to take the tequeño away from him, but in his tender, sweet voice he just said to the boy, "Hello."

My son doesn't speak perfectly, he only says a few words and "Hola" is one of them, which he accompanies with a hand movement.

Dorian was only going to greet the child, not take the tequeño away from him and I felt horrible for not trusting him.

Then I thought, "Why would he go to take it from him if we've never taught him that? I've only taught him to greet people. It made more sense for me to greet him."

But, I was nervous about having Dorian among so many people.

To distrust Dorian is to distrust myself.

2. Dejarlos afrontar sus miedos

En el club había un parque pequeño, donde estaba un columpio. Yo me moría de ganas de meterlo y verlo ahí, pero Dorian no quería al principio. Imagino que, desde su estatura, se veía algo alto.

No quise forzarlo en meterlo, cuando lo intentaba, pataleaba un poco. Me di por vencida y nos fuimos de nuevo a la piscina.

Al cabo de un rato, volvimos al parque. Él miraba el columpio y lo subí, lo mecí lentamente y la foto anterior fue el resultado.

La maternidad, definitivamente, es un aprendizaje constante. Son lecciones diarias llenas de amor.

2. Let them face their fears

At the club there was a small park, where there was a swing. I couldn't wait to get him in and see him there, but Dorian didn't want to at first. I guess, from his height, he looked a little tall.

I didn't want to force him in, when I tried, he would kick a little. I gave up and we went back to the pool.

After a while, we went back to the park. He was looking at the swing and I pulled him up, rocked him slowly and the above photo was the result.

Motherhood is definitely a constant learning experience. It's daily lessons filled with love.