"Wanna Go To The Pool?"

I am asked this question often throughout the summer.  The actual activity du jour varies wildly, depending on who actually asked the question.

"Wanna go to the pool?"

Coming from my youngest son, Will, this is an invite to go put in some laps and work out together.  Sharing a lane is probable. Wetsuits may or may not be involved, depending on the time of day and/or weather.  An actual workout swimsuit is a must.  My gym bag must come, because it has my caps, goggles, and ear plugs.  He is definitely hoping I'll bring my pool 'toys'... hand paddles, pull buoy, kick board, fins... so he can use them, too.  Some time relaxing in the hot tub after the workout is done is a given.  He may or may not abandon me, depending on whether or not one of his friends also happens to be at the pool at that moment.

If I had to describe Will's pool self, it would be a fish.  Warm water, cold water... he is happy in it.  Living in and loving the water.

"Wanna go to the pool?"

This question from my daughter, Helena, is not actually an invite to SWIM.  This is an invite to go lounge next to the pool and bake in the sun.  A lounging suit is a must.  My phone for music and entertainment, ear buds, possibly reading material, and a wallet for the snack shack should all be included in the pool bag.  Now, I can't really tolerate just baking in the sun, so I go dunk myself in the pool every 10-15 minutes and return to my chaise pleasantly cooled off so I can lounge on.  I may even abandon my post at her side and just lay right in the water for a while.  Helena, however, is the all-time-family-record-holder-queen-bee of sun baking.  She is really quite the master at it.

If I had to describe Helena's pool self, it would be a lizard.  Basking and dozing in the sun.  Collecting its warmth to hopefully last her through the cold winter.

Bill never asks this question.  Or rather, I should say, I have no recollection of Bill ever asking me, "wanna go to the pool?"  It is just not in his nature to want to go to the pool.  He'd rather be on a bike.

So, which version of the question do I prefer, you ask?

I like them both.  I am happy to do both.  Usually not at the same time.  The three of us occasionally go to the pool together, but usually it is a one on one kind of deal.  Any which way you look at it, it is a win-win for me.

Time at/in the pool + time with my kids = a very happy me!