Monday, June 28, 2010

The Kool-Aid Mom and the Kid Magnet

So here we are, 10 days into summer vacation for Little Brother, 17 for Middle Sister, and 6 business days into summer job for Big Brother.

Summer's getting old already, I have to say.

TheDad is home from work this week and the big project has been the installation of an above-ground swimming pool, AKA Kid Magnet.

That makes me the Kool-Aid Mom.

The pool's not quite up and running just yet; we need electricity for the filter and the ladder is not assembled completely. But already the neighborhood kids are looking to swim.

One of the eighth-grade Boy Scouts who hangs around here in the hopes that one of Middle Sister's friends will visit has already threatened promised that he'd be here swimming often. Oh, joy. Between the pool, the fire pit, and the never-ending supply of eighth-grade girls, there's plenty to attract those Boy Scouts.

And then there are the Three Musketeers who live down the street, whose number includes Adventure Boy. I imagine that once the pool opens, they'll be here with nothing but a bathing suit (no shoes, no shirt, no towel) and expect to stay the day. Every day. If I let them swim on nice days, can I ask them to stay home when it rains?

Advice on a pool-rules policy would be most welcome. (I've already decided that if you live on this block and you show up without a towel, you can go home and get it.) Of course, invited nonswimmers need to bring their own parent and flotation devices.

I like that my kids are playing here and they want to invite their friends over. But the under-18 crowd needs to be supervised (the 14-year-olds even more so than the 8-year-olds, for different reasons) and that can be plenty exhausting.

How many more weeks until school starts?

6 comments:

Barbara said...

I remember a friend having a red light/green light system (or red flag, green flag) to tell "visitors" if it was o.k. to swim. This, of course, prevents "visitors" from coming at all hours of the day and, possibly, night to swim. No swimming unless you give the "all clear."

And if you have not already done so, you may also want to check with your insurance agent to see what your liability is (sadly in this litigious society you never can tell for what you will be held responsible).

nicole said...

We don't have a pool at our house, but if we did, I would have some kind of document that parents have to sign before kids swim. Something that outlines liability, as well as rules, that parents and kids acknowledge. You might consider posted pool hours, times when you are available to supervise. Maybe you could even ask other parents to take turns helping supervise if their kids are regular visitors.

I hope you enjoy your summer!

Barbara said...

I thought I posted a comment here. No?

Michelle said...

Charge admission.

Barb Szyszkiewicz said...

Testing!

Renee said...

Seems like hours of operation are definitely in order. Days on, days off. They should either bring their own snacks and drinks, or contribute some way for them (weeding? moving heavy objects?)

Modest and respectful dress and behavior is a must.

Post a few rules, set a few hours off, and then let the summer begin!