The other week, I was complaining to my husband that I almost wish we didn’t have a pool.  Between keeping it clean, buying the chemicals, and now probably having to replace the liner, all I saw was a money pit and a bunch of hassle. 

The other day it was soooo hot.  I mean, I took the kids to the park, the swing seats were hot, the slide was hot, and after a half an hour they wanted to go home.  We went in the morning so it wouldn’t be too humid, and so that the UV wouldn’t be too high.  Unfortunately, it was one of those days when it was hot from the moment you woke up. 

We got home, we stripped down to our swimsuits, slapped on the sunscreen and hopped in the pool.  Wow, did that feel refreshing.  A few people surrounding me have pools also and they were all in their pools at that time as well.  The sweet sound of children laughing, splashing, and watching beach balls fly in the air was very relaxing. 

After all of my grumbling the previous week about the hassle and cost of owning a pool, I realized the simple pleasures also associated with it.  A girl at work told me that “I couldn’t imagine growing up without a pool.  We always had one” and I realized how lucky my children were.  Not only is a pool fun, but its a great way to practice how to swim; an important means of survival.  I also thought back to my own childhood…..we never had a pool but my grandparents had a cottage that we would go to.  Those memories were some of the best memories I can think of in my childhood.  Collecting shells along the beach, swiming in the water, going for boat rides, and roasting marshmallows and hotdogs on the campfire.

Thinking back, it made me realize I have to sometimes think through the eyes of my children.  We get so caught up in a stressful adult life, complaining about money or time that we don’t have, that we lose touch of the simple pleasures that life brings us.

Enjoy the simple things in life.