For my SAHMs

I've thought about this a lot, but what do you think is the greatest perk of being a stay-at-home mom, aside from the whole be-with-your-chittlins-all-day thing?

After some consideration, I've decided it's spending more time outdoors. OK, in the winter this isn't really a perk - it's a punishment - but I still get a chance to see the sky a lot more than I did when I worked full-time.

In the summer, our life is spent outdoors. Last week, I put on makeup twice because we spent a huge chunk of each day at the pool or a park or another outdoor arena. Miss Dub and I are already sporting wicked tan lines. (I'm not proud of this. I'm becoming part-iguana with my nasty leather hide.)

Some days I feel guilty. When Mr. Dub heads off to work for another busy day of reports and meetings, I say things like, "Yeah, our day is going to be busy, too. We're going to swim in the morning, then have lunch with friends, then head to a park." As if he should be grateful!

It's not totally fair, but there are entire days in the winter when I don't speak a word to an adult and change 5+ diapers full of reconstituted food ... so I guess it balances out.

Plus, when I start to feel guilty that my life is largely creating fun experiences for my child - I remember that I would never forgive myself if I stayed home and focused only on myself. I'm not staying home to swim; I'm staying home to teach Miss Dub to swim. To show her the beauty of a blue sky. To teach her water etiquette. To point out the letters and shapes and sounds we see on the way to the pool. It's all part of a greater educational experience - and I'm lucky enough to be her teacher.

But it's pretty cool that we get to do it outside.

Seriously?

Photo courtesy of RR Photographs

We went to the pool yesterday with this gal and her über-cute twins.

Guess how much it cost?

No, guess higher.

No, still higher.

OK, your last guess was just ridiculous. ($25? C'mon!)

It cost each adult $SEVEN, though kids under 2 were free. And despite Miss Dub's extraordinary height, she's still passing for a baby.

The kiddie play area was super cool, complete with water tanks, a spouting whale, a huge water jungle gym and various other water features. But at $4.50 an hour it seemed a little steep. I could have seen a matinee for that price, though movie ticket prices are a whole 'nother issue. And let me tell you, I didn't see Matt Damon at the pool. Even for $SEVEN.

Going to the beach here is even pricier. You get a small discount for living in the town where each beach is located, but it's $NINE for non-residents. To walk on rocky sand and swim in a frigid lake!

Maybe I'm just out of it, but when I worked as a pool lifeguard, admission was a mere $1.50. And last time I went to the beach in Cali admission was free. So that's some steep inflation.

Don't get me wrong. I paid it. And I probably will again because Miss Dub had such a fun time crawling around in the shallow water and getting sprayed, and I enjoyed the sun without having to hold her above water.

But it seems excessive.

What do you think?

How much are you paying to enjoy the outdoors this summer?

A girl who loves water

I am a girl who was a lifeguard for several years. Who would start her work shift as early as 5 a.m., only to return home to teach more swim lessons or swim in my own pool.

I am a girl who grew up in Arizona but yearned to be a SoCal surfer girl. Who started a school-sanctioned surf team with her BFF, only to declare each surf meet to be “rained out,” since admitting one would be improbable was too painful.

I am a girl who would start swimming as soon as a wet suit wasn’t required. Except when visiting California, when I would turn into a girl who would brave dangerously cold waters for a quick dip just to know I hadn’t passed up an opportunity to acquaint myself with the ocean over Christmas break. Who was so excited on one such occasion that she bruised the soles of her feet while running across a rocky beach to enjoy a chilly swim.

I am a girl who spent last summer lounging my whale-like assets poolside with no shame. Who has never worn shorts over my swimsuit while swimming. Who almost always gets her hair wet. Who doesn’t mind the smell of chlorine. Nay, who loves it.

I am a girl who loves water.

I am a girl who isn’t afraid of cold water.

So yesterday when we went swimming at our apartment pool and the water felt frigid, I knew it must be really, really cold. I knew that the when the pool had been closed for repairs recently, it was because the heater broke. I knew that the chilly water and cooler breeze were combining forces with potentially hypothermic results.

But you know who didn’t mind the freezing water? Miss Dub.

She is a girl even stronger than her mother.

And I couldn’t be prouder.

Swim on, Miss Dub, swim on!

p.s. What’s your pool personality?