My husband is referred to by my children as “the fun one at the pool.” He comes by it naturally, having been on swim team at age 5 and growing up spending his summer days at the pool. He loves the water. Me? Not quite as much (which is funny, since I grew up with a pool in my backyard. Even funnier was my un-enthusiasm for the beach — I was raised on Long Island, with beaches fairly close in every direction … I should’ve come by a love of water naturally … But I didn’t … And I digress).
Yesterday all 3 of my kids only wanted to be with Fun Daddy in the pool. We’d spent a good part of the last 4 days at the pool, and it was no secret to anyone that my husband was more entertaining in the water. He dives. He races. He throws the kids through the air. He does flips off the board. He goes underwater and waves to them.
At one point, my daughter asked me to play a game in which we would take turns sticking our faces into the water. This didn’t sound appealing to me in the least. I’d barely gotten out my polite “I dont think so” before she swam off toward my husband (who promptly stuck his whole head underwater). A big part of me was tempted to get out of the pool and hightail it to the nearest mall. Nobody would miss me anyway. Okay, so maybe I DON’T typcially enter the pool (AT ALL) until the month of July because the water’s too freakin’ cold. So maybe I’m NOT the world’s most water-savvy mom. But damn it, I can be fun in other ways. You should see me bake and decorate a birthday cake!
On the way to the pool today (a sullen day with Daddy back to work), my daughter reiterated the fact that Daddy is the most fun in the pool. “He’s fun AND funny,” she said happily.
“Yeah,” agreed my younger son. “Mommy doesn’t catch us from the slide or the diving board, because she might drown.”
“I can do all of those things without drowning,” I said, “but you guys always ask Daddy instead.”
There was a strange silence in the car.
Uh-oh, I thought. I’m up. Better get fun. Fast.
I did. I played games and raced with my kids in the water. I caught them off the slide. I threw them into the air and played water basketball. I had them stand on my knees and pretend to waterski. I stuck my face in the water. And I had a blast.
I’m sure I’m still not quite as much fun as Daddy, but I don’t need to be. My kids know I want to be with them and share in the fun. That’s all they care about.
…Me too.
The World of Author/Mom Alicia Murphy! 
Way to go!!!!! My biggest problems was I never wanted to get my hair wet. But I do agree with you, that you may not always want to get into the pool, but you have fun and are fun with your kids in lots of other ways. You and Jack are great parents and have lots of fun with you kids, so don’t ever think that you are not a fun mom.
Thanks so much Donna.
Sent from my iPhone
Sounds a lot like me! I hate the ocean, so while daddy is out in the water splashing, riding waves and having all sorts of fun, there I am in my beach chair looking for shark fins.