Child Drowns in Pond

The niece of my brother's friend drowned the other day in a pond while swimming with friends at a friend's house. She was 12 years old. I don't even want to imagine what these parents are going through. I also can't imagine what these young kids will have to remember for the rest of their lives - seeing their friend pulled from the pond too late.

My kids are taking swimming lessons but none of them are good swimmers yet. My 12-year-old daughter has more confidence than she is ready for I think when she's in the deep end of the pool. Even though there is a lifeguard at the pool, I still watch and hover in the background. I'm not quite ready to trust the safety of my children to a stranger. When accidents like this child drowning happens, you realize how quickly and unexpectedly you can lose your child. I was supposed to start working out while my kids went to open swim and trust the lifeguard at the Y, but after this happened, I'm not sure I want to not be a second supervisor while they're swimming.

Hug your children!