Saturday night I had a terrible dream that Kaitlyn was drowning in a pool. I woke up right after I "rescued" her from the water so I don't know how my dream would have ended. I woke up scared, heartbroken and I just wanted to cuddle her. So I woke her up and put her in bed with me. It was the worst feeling ever.

Yesterday my friend came home from vacation and we went swimming with her and her son. He learned how to swim while on vacation. Kaitlyn NEVER even attempts going to the water until her floaties are on. Never. She's a bit scared of the water. Well we all met at the pool and my friend and I got caught up talking and catching up with each others lives. The next thing I know Sean (my friends son) says "Look Melissa, Kaitlyn's swimming." I look over and she's in the water and let go of the edge (I assume trying to copy Sean swimming) and is struggling to keep herself up. Of course my first instinct is to dive into the water and get her. Thank God she was fine, just coughed up a little water and was terrified but didn't do half bad trying to keep her head up.

As a mother, that is the WORST thing I could have ever seen with my own eyes. Since the dream it had been bothering me really bad even though it was just a dream. Now that it actually happened, I can't get the image out of my head. It bothers me. It's like a nightmare that won't go away. If Sean would have never told me she was "swimming" I may not have noticed her right away. I think about it all day, the image runs through my head until I fall asleep at night. It's not because I feel bad (and I do) because I realize accidents happen and I will definitely keep a closer eye on her now but it's the actual image of it that haunts me. I want it to go away.

By Juli4 on Thursday, August 31, 2006 - 12:19 pm:

I understand completely. Something like that happened with my oldest when she was 3. She choked on a nikel and we did the heimlech on her, but it took probably 30 seconds and scared us we had a hard time sleeping for a few nights after that. Hugs to you.

By Fraggle on Thursday, August 31, 2006 - 12:37 pm:

(((Melissa))) I witnessed something a few weeks ago (luckily it did not involve my children) and I was having trouble letting go of the image, too, but it will go away slowly. It is also very scary when one event coincides with another. I have had this happen to me and I always wondered if it was just coincidence or what.

By Cat on Thursday, August 31, 2006 - 12:39 pm:

{{{{{Melissa}}}}} Btdt Lots of hugs to both of you.

By Dawnk777 on Thursday, August 31, 2006 - 12:46 pm:

I was the one who scared my parents to death. We were at someone's house, who had a pool. I just jumped in, because I was used to pools, but apparently not enough. The pool was shallow enough on one end, but then went deeper on the other side. I jumped in the deeper side and my dad had to help me get to the shallower end. Then the family put the rope up, which they must not have used just for themselves. My mom signed us up for swimming lessons then. I must have been in grade school, somewhere. I can't remember exactly how old.

By Tink on Thursday, August 31, 2006 - 12:48 pm:

When my oldest was a little younger than Kaitlyn, she was in a suit that had a built-in flotation ring. She managed to flip herself over in it so her feet and bottom were above water but she couldn't get herself turned back around. Like you, it was only a matter of seconds under the water but it feels like a lifetime and the image does haunt you for a while. I tried to just take it as a lesson learned and never let her in the water without me in arm's reach until she was swimming on her own. {{{Melissa}}}

By Luvn29 on Thursday, August 31, 2006 - 12:49 pm:

I'm so sorry, Melissa. It is so hard watching a child go through something like that, and seeing it over and over in your head and playing the "what if" game.

I'm so thankful that everything is okay, and with time, your anxiety and fright will ease up.

Just give that little girl extra hugs whenever you need and thank God that you got to her when she needed you.

By Shann on Thursday, August 31, 2006 - 10:50 pm:

Before I had kids and was still living at home. I had a dream about my nephew who is autistic. But I had a dream that there next door neighbors young punkie kids killed my Nephew and put his body in there attic terrible terrible dream. I get up that morning just felt sick. I told my mom and Dad what I had dreamed my Mom was on the phone with my sister. My nephew was fine but there neighbors had a party that night and one of the kids was shot and killed. it was to scary. I hate having dreams like that expecially when its your kids because it makes you more cautious because you don't know if it is a sign or just a dream.

By Insaneusmcwife on Friday, September 1, 2006 - 08:24 am:

{{{{Melissa}}}} The visions will go away they just will take a little time. Remember when Alli fell out of the moving truck (duh me, how could *you* forget) I had those visions for at least a week after. Thank god Kaitlyn is ok.

By Breann on Friday, September 1, 2006 - 10:37 am:

((((hugs)))) Water has always scared me. I need to get my kids into swim lessons so they can learn how to swim. I'm not much of a swimmer. I like to "go swimming" (ie playing in the 4 foot pool with the kids), but you won't ever see me in anything deeper. Kids in my dd's class are already jumping off the high dives. I know I'm holding my dd back.

By Boxzgrl on Friday, September 1, 2006 - 11:41 am:

Oh gosh, I remember that Kristie. That was bad. Good thing she was okay though.