Water Park Observations

Note to self--don't have children facing the sun when taking photos. Nice squinty faces guys!

Yesterday the boys and I went to Knight's Action Park in Springfield for a day of fun at the water park. This is the first time Jack has ever been and I wasn't really sure how he would do. Fortunately, he is a little bit skittish about water, so there was no running off for him. We had a few logistical problems figuring out how to do the Lazy River and the wave pool with both of them wanting their own intertubes. Everyone has to be in a tube, so it was kind of tricky but I finally managed to talk Jack into sharing with me. (There was no finesse here, I basically said, "if you don't ride with Mommy, you are going to drown.") It was a very enjoyable, expensive day ($55.00 for the 3 of us and we were there for 3 1/2 hours) When we left, Parker said, "you didn't give me any minutes." I didn't know what he was talking about but he explained that I didn't tell him 15 more minutes, then 10, then 5. He's right. I just said that we were going to have to leave in a little bit. Ooops. He is right. I shouldn't forget the minutes. Because my children are not exactly the adventurous type, they didn't wander far and wouldn't even dream about going down a big waterslide. This means that they played peacefully nearby while I had all the time in the world to observe the many wonders of a water park. I'm not talking fountains and slides, people, I'm talking OTHER PEOPLE!!!! You see some really amazing things when everyone is in a bathing suit. When I see women who definitely should not be wearing a bikini, my first thought is always, "gross". (Don't get all offended--this is what I think about my own body in a bikini!) Then I start to think, well, good for them. If they are confident enough to go out in public all lumpy and bumpy and squishy and spilling out--then more power to them. I certainly don't have that kind of confidence. I also like the women who come in complete make-up with hair done and jewelry in place. Even if you aren't planning to get in the water, it is a water park. There is no place for fussiness. However, you don't have to be a disgusting slob and there is plenty of that too. And lots and lots of tattoos. BIG ones. I also made an observation that young mothers seem to look better in a bathing suit than those of us who had children later in life. Even if you are thin, things just aren't where they used to be. Unless, of course, you are lucky enough to be surgically helped putting it back where it belongs. There was plenty of that too. Lucky dogs. I saw a women nursing right there in the pool in the most discreet way I have ever seen and she didn't have anything with her--no blanket, no towel, not even a tissue. She just used her hand to cup her baby's face and you couldn't see a thing. In fact, I will bet that most people didn't even know what she was doing. I have no problem with nursing in public if it is done discreetly. However, I wouldn't give my baby a bottle in the pool, so maybe that wasn't the best place for a feeding. Bravo for her though for finding a way so that my boys didn't see her boobs and ask me a bunch of questions that I don't really feel like I should have to answer at the water park or the mall or the zoo. I am going to make sure that my boys know to be aware of people around them and to be polite. Many, many of the older kids either don't know about this quality, or they forgot it. We were constantly getting bumped and splashed and kicked by big kids. When we were in the 2 foot water which is supposed to be for the preschool set. I saw something truly disgusting. Not much turns my stomach and I am definitely not one to be overly concerned about germs and such. (Which I swear is why my children very rarely get sick. KNOCK ON WOOD!!!!!!) However, I saw a man with some kind of skin condition that was so gross it almost made me gag. He had these large scars all over his torso. I couldn't tell if they were open wounds, but I'm sure hoping they weren't. I have never seen anything like it and I hope I never do again. Bleck!!!! I seriously thought about getting out of the pool in case he was some kind of bio-terrorist who was infecting the whole wave pool with leprosy. Man it was gross. Poor man. I'm sure he got lots of stares. Maybe he should think about getting one of those water shirts to wear when he goes to the pool. Because if I was grossed out, I can think of several friends who might have actually lost their lunch and went up to the ticket booth to ask for a refund. So, we had a good day at the water park and I'm sure we will go back soon. I can't wait to try out my new bikini! ;-)