Fun in the Sun, Can you Take Safety Too Far this Summer?

Is it possible to be "too safe" with kids? I highly doubt it.We are blessed to a) live near family and b) live near family that as a pool we can use during the warm summer months. Being a WAHM means I do have the ability to utilize said pool during the day but that other family members are usually working. Solo pool trips with kids sound AWESOME during the summer, right? (Please note the sarcasm) If your kids are avid swimmers, older and able to follow the rules, I'm sure it is awesome. I haven't read a book by the pool in FOUR YEARS but that's my own doing, I'm sure.  Our current chapter of life brings with it a 4-year-old who jumps straight into the pool with his mouth open at any opportunity and a 2-year-old who is still trying to figure out the whole relationship between water and gravity...Enter, modern day bubble wrap for water activities: the life jacket.Yes, Target and most stores sell the floaties, or the inflatable tubes or what-have-you but I go all in.We have the life jacket with the hook/handle on the top which makes for easy retrieval no matter where they are. Need to pluck them out of the water? Check! Trying to nab a speeding toddler on their way past you? Check! Child loses balance and starts to fall? Check! Oh yeah, and they're good for keeping kids alive in the water, you know, it's explicit purpose.Travel with me to a few weeks ago when I took the kids over to my parents' house for some swimming.Setting the scene:-I'm 30+ weeks pregnant-Both kids are jazzed about swimming-It's a beautiful day but I'm the only adult on duty/around After finally getting the kids (and myself) in swimsuits and all sun-lotioned up we head outside and immediately put on life jackets. Here's my thinking. I'm about as slow as molasses in the winter time at this point, there is no way that if one of these quick kids goes running for the pool, that I'm going to be able to catch them. Thank goodness for the life jackets.We start at the sand pit where yes, they kept their life jackets on and eventually move to the pool. I currently have two hands and two toddlers so it was a successful day. Check in with me next summer to see how we handle two hands and THREE kiddos.Remember, the life jackets don't teach your kids to KEEP THEIR MOUTHS CLOSED when they jump in, but they do pop them back up quick quickly.The real moral of this post is that nothing beats eyes-on-kids-parenting to keep kiddos safe but the life jackets sure do help!Be Great,M