Guarding Lives

"It builds character." 

"It prepares you for the real world."

"It teaches you the value of a dollar."

"It teaches you how to manage money."

"You will learn responsibility."
"Because I said so."

These are all the reasons that I was bombarded with when my parents thrusted me into the working world.  Truth be told, I knew it was coming.  As long back as I could remember, my mom would point out the local pool.  She would tell me that 'those kids' (lifeguards) barely work and get paid so much money.  The summer I turned fifteen, I was enrolled in the lifeguarding course.  I didn't question it.  I didn't fight it.  That's what I was born to do.  Or at least that's what I was lead to believe growing up.  And you know what?  It was a pretty sweet deal.

I continued to work as a lifeguard for 6 years, the majority of those years I worked at two different municipal pools.  This translates to 12 hour weekdays, five days a week - 6 hours at one pool, a 10 minute drive, then 6 more hours at the second pool.  Then on the weekends I would work 8 hour shifts, pool #1 on Saturday, pool #2 on Sunday.  And this is the schedule I kept mid June until the end of August.  Quite the rigorous work schedule for a high school/college student?  Well, one might say yes, but it wasn't all work.  First of all our 'adult supervision' was slim to none.  Brilliant move.  Teens left to their own devices.  In a position of authority.  Secondly, we were all friends, so basically it was like being paid to hang out with your friends all day.  Finally, we were learning about life!  Preparing for the big world out there.

Ok, so now some of you are getting nervous about the safety of the children.  Let me assure you, they were well taken care of.  It may have been unconventional, but definitely a good time for all parties involved.  Let me also point out that if you were that concerned you would have also been there to watch your children.  I'm talking to you, parents who would drop off your four children for the day armed with a towel, a tub of peanut butter, and four spoons!  Yep, true story.  You can't make this stuff up. 

Yes, of course, we saved some sinking kids that bobbed out a little too far.  Treated bee stings.  Bandaid-ed boo-boos and scraped knees.  Taught a few kids how to swim.  Shouted "WALK!!!" four hundred and seventy times a day through our awesome megaphones.  Seriously though... just walk!!

So what did I learn, besides how to have a good time?  I could start a whole other blog just about the practical jokes.  It was non-stop.  You always had to be on your toes, suspicious of your 'friend.'  Lock your car doors.  Hide the keys.  Keep your food safe.  All while scheming your next prank!  Anyways, I learned:

• Kids don't care how cold it is, they always want to swim. 
• The six summers I lifeguarded it rarely thunder (out of the pool!).  Now that I have two kids and two dogs afraid of thunder, it happens practically every day.
• Although poop and puke are just as effective (some may argue even more so) as thunder and lightening at emptying a pool - someone has to clean it up.  (finger on nose) "Not it!!"
• Even though they look similar, salt and sugar are not interchangeable in a grasshopper pie recipe - ok, I already knew that, but another girl, with good intentions, found out the hard way.  Really?  You thought that you would have good results?
• Make good and sure you have the correct car in a parking lot before you cover it in ketchup, mustard, and toliet paper.  Ok, another lesson I didn't learn personally, but I had an awesome time watching two 'colleagues' learning this.
• Teach the big kid swim classes in the morning - that way you don't have get in when it's so cold!
• Kick boards work better than a broom when trying to move a massive puddle.

• Unless you attach the inner tubes to one another, they will not effectively stay together while rolling someone down a hill in them.

• The most important thing I took away from this experience?  Everyone should encourage their kids to become lifeguards.  Let's face it.  My mom was right.  We got more than minimum wage and the work we did wasn't all that bad.

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This was my first time participating in Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop!  Yeah!  I've wanted to do this for some time now.  It was a lot of fun and it gave me the perfect excuse to dig up some pics from the good old times!  You should try it too!