Flushed Away

I started keeping a journal around the end of June. I decided that I really need to be diligent about it so I could write down my thoughts, all the things my kids say and do, and the fun things we do as a family. We went to the beach at the end of June and we had a blast. At the time A1 had just turned 6 and A2 had not turned 3 yet. We went with my Mom and step-dad and stayed in a very nice house.

It was overcast one day so we decided to go to a water park. It was a small water park but it was so much fun! I was really surprised that the kids wanted to ride the big slides and stay in the lazy river rather than hang out in the kiddie area. There was one slide that we called the toilet bowl and we said we were getting "Flushed Away" each time we went down. I don't know how high it was but it was waaaayyy up there. The first part of the slide is a tunnel that takes you around some curves. The you shoot out into a "bowl" in which you whirl around in until you get sucked down into the next curvy tunnel slide that spits you out into the lazy river. If you haven't seen the movie Flushed Away, you need to. It is so funny. Even if you don't have kids you'll enjoy it. This slide reminded us of that movie.

A2 is my more adventurous child and A1 is apprehensive about trying new things. Of course, as
we floated around the lazy river, A2 saw the toilet bowl slide and wanted to go down. I thought she would be too small so I asked the next life guard that we floated by if she could go down and he said "Yes as long as you go down with her". Duh. "And you have to use a double raft." What? That thing was huge.

So A2 and I sent out on the endless hike up the winding stairs to the top of the slide. The raft was so heavy and I had to balance the raft on one arm and hold A2's hand on the other side of me. Oh yeah, I had to keep my balance as well. I didn't realize how hard it would be to get the raft, hold onto a slightly unbalanced 2 year old and a not so fit me, up the equivalent of 4 plus stories just for a few seconds of thrilling swirls, laughs, and screams. All the while I was thinking, praying rather, please don't change your mind when we get up here little girl, you'll be going down anyway.

We made it up to the top and I had to ask myself if what I just did, dragging myself, raft and my 2 year old so far up was stupid. It was our turn and the life guard at the top helped us get in the raft. A2 was in the front and I tucked my legs under her arms and reached forward to hold onto her arms. She was so tiny I could barely reach her! She did have a life vest on.

We hadn't even taken off yet and A2 was already laughing. I was afraid she would start crying but she was so excited. With a little push from the life guard, we were screaming our way down the winding tube. Before we knew it we were swirling around the giant toilet bowl. We got stuck at the opening that sucks you into the next tunnel so I had to give us a little push. After a few more seconds and screams we were back in the lazy river.

My Mom and step dad said they could hear us laughing and screaming all the way down. They waited for us at the end of the slide. Of course we all know what comes next "Do it again!" So we did. And again and again and again. Finally one of the life guards told me that she could ride on my lap and we could go down in a single tube because she was so small. Thanks for watching me go up those steps 100 times before you tell me that life guard dude.

In many ways I can compare mothering to that water slide. In the beginning it's the excitement of becoming a mother and trying something new. What's at the top? You know it will be worth the "hike". The weight of something you're not used to putting stress on your body (raft=baby). Unsteady, yet you are on your way to the top. That raft has to get up there some how, if you want to ride the slide, you have to take the raft. Like the trusting child, relying solely on you for safety and nourishment when you are pregnant, she trusts you to get her safely to the top and back down again.

Then you reach the top. This could be the end of your pregnancy or adoption. You are waiting your turn to become a mother. Before you know it, you're up. you take your seat in the raft, making sure your precious cargo is safe and brace yourself for the twists and turns that lay ahead. Then your off. Screaming and laughing but a little frightened you hold on tight.

Sometimes we get spit out of those thrilling curvy tunnels and end up in what seems like the toilet bowl of life. We go around and around until we are sucked into another set of twists and turns. Sometimes we get stuck in the bowl like we did on that water slide and it takes a little more effort to get through to the next stage. Ahead, more dark tunnels, fast turns, and bumpy slides.

And, as it all began, you end up in the calm waters of the lazy river with your family waiting for you at the end. If you relax and go with the flow of the lazy river, it will take you right back to the stairs of the water slide and you can do it all over again. This time you may have learned a short cut or picked up some good advice. Ex: instead of hauling that really heavy double raft up tons of stairs, you can opt to take the smaller, lighter single raft.

We all learn from our mistakes, but what an adventure you have while trying something new.