Listening

We've really been talking to Garrick a lot about listening and doing what we ask. I double check that he understands what we're asking of him but that doesn't mean it always happens. This last weekend we went with Carl down on the mountain to go hunting, Icky has been so excited about it. So we went down and stayed in the trailer while Carl was hunting. We stayed in the trailer Thursday night and Friday night and were headed to Carl's parents Saturday.

While we were up there we decided to go to Electric Lake, since we bought the property Icky has wanted to go throw rocks in it. Saturday we packed our stuff and a lunch since we were coming off the mountain and stopped at the lake. Garrick had a ball throwing rocks and trying to skip them, and Marley loved the dirt. We were headed to go eat our lunch at the car when I decided to go to the boat ramp and wash their hands off. I thought to myself that I should just wash them at the car, but reasoned out of it and went to wash their hands. When hands were washed they started splashing. Again, I thought I should just go to the car, but reasoned that they were just going to splash for a minute. I told both of the kids that they could play as long as they stayed on the cement. After a few minutes Marley kept trying to go deeper, and they both ventured off the ramp a step or two. I kept Marley on the ramp and didn't let her go, but I gave Icky a little more freedom. Well Icky stepped off again and lost his balance, I told him to come back to the ramp and to come towards me. He tripped and fell, when he reached down to push himself up he couldn't reach and kicked off with his legs further into the lake. He did that again and I could tell that if he got his feet down he could reach but he had panicked. I headed into the water as he kicked off one more time. With Marley dangling from my left hand I reached down and grabbed Garrick by the collar of his shirt. I got out and was wet up past mid-thigh. I don't know what I would have done because right about where his head was the water had started getting really dark and deep. I was shaking and I will never forget the terror in his eyes as I reached for him in the water.

I talked to him about how he needed to listen to me and do what I say. As I thought about it later I feel even worse because I didn't listen. Two times I ignored promptings to get out of the situation. It was a real eye opener to me about how well I listen and how important my kids are to me. If my back had been turned I really could have lost him that day in the lake and it breaks my heart. I am truly blessed to have such great and beautiful kids, I love you Garrick.