Lilian: ‘I saw him go down like that and my heart skipped a beat’
Lilian Finn (31) is an author, speaker and designer. She is married to Charles and mother of son Nox (4). You can read more columns by Lilian at LilianFinn.nl.
Summer begins and we set off again to the Ketelmeer or the swimming pool. A day of swimming means for Nox that his water pistols can finally be used and I hope to absorb a little Vitamin D. By the way, don’t even think that you can read a page in your book that you packed with enthusiasm in your bag. And fortunately, because I wouldn’t have wanted to know what would have happened last summer if I had been engrossed in that book. A child without diplomas is underwater faster than you can imagine, I can tell from my own experience.
Submerged
Last summer I was away for a weekend with a friend and our sons and we were splashing in the subtropical swimming pool. My son was playing with a floating mat in the shallow paddling pool and I sat on the side for a while. Without a book, without distraction, but not in the water for a while. At that point, somehow that playmat comes on top of three-year-old Nox. He went under and had to struggle to get the mat off him. Man, I’ve never run so fast in my life and my girlfriend also came swimming like a spear. Fortunately, Nox came out from under the mat himself. I don’t think I’ve ever hugged him as hard as I did at that moment.
“Man, I’ve never run so fast in my life”
Small corner
And Nox? He didn’t have any problems with it and was soon happy again playing. Still loves the water and plays in the pool with peace of mind. It’s a different story with mothers. I still have the fear to the heart and still sit a little less calmly along the side during a swimming party. I don’t dare to read a bit now. That image that he is under the mat, I don’t get that easily from my retina. My throat immediately closes with tension when I think what could have happened. An accident is – even if you are just there – a small corner.
I’m glad this ended well – and that he’s been taking swimming lessons for a few weeks now. Hopefully that will also bring back the joint swimming pleasure for me and we will enjoy the water to the full on holiday in France.
