Lifeguard III: The Redemption

So we jogged to the playground this morning. As the clock ticked past 10, the lifeguards started showing up for work at the adjacent pool. We ambled over and watched them work from outside the fence. We counted them. There were four. One had a broom. One had a big broom. One had a hose. We talked about how they were sweeping; they were cleaning up; they were getting the pool ready for the kids.

Eventually Thumper started talking to them. "Hi! Hi! Hi, Lifeguard! Hi!" The lifeguard responded, but didn't come near. No one poked him.

I asked if we could look at a tube. "What, like, just to look at?" said the lifeguard. Yes, just to look at. So she passed one through the fence. I set it down, and asked Thumper if he wanted to touch it.

"No." he said. So I left it there. After a few minutes, of course, he couldn't resist. He touched it. We talked about it. I told him it helps people swim, like his Noodle.

"Swim, like a Noodle!" he said. "It not hurt you!" he said.

"No," I said, "it won't hurt you. The lifeguards use it help people."

And so on, for a half hour or so. We watched; we talked.

"He's got a broom! He's sweeping! Like a Noodle! It not hurt you!"

So hopefully that went a ways towards desensitization. I'm thinking we'll try the pool again after we go to the gym tomorrow. Maybe, just maybe, the sight of a lifeguard won't send him right over the edge this time. Maybe.