Thank you for sharing this, it must have taken a lot of guts to write this up, especially knowing you were likely to get some nasty comments. I think we all have moments were we are a little bit careless, because we honestly think everything will be fine. Or because we just don't think about it. The other day I bought a kid's sleeping bag for my son and was letting him sleep in it. I went in to get him up from his nap and found him sitting in bed with the straps used to hold the wrapped sleeping bag wrapped around his neck. I didn't even know there was straps on it, and I had never thought to check. Thankfully he was fine, but something bad could have happened.

Amanda, Sturgeon Falls, Ontario

Thank you, your words took courage and I will always remember your story, as I have two little ones of my own.

Y Tochez, Mississauga, ON

Wow, that was a very scary story. Thank you for sharing. I'm so glad to hear all is OK in the end.

Samantha, Oakville, ON

My dear, I am so glad the worse did not happen to your son. I am a mummy of a 3.5 year old daughter and on the rare occasions when we are in the pool I follow her around everywhere. Last year on vacation in Florida in a split second she went under the water in a very shallow kiddie pool, had we not helped her out who knows what could have happened. All this happened literally in a second when we looked away at something, even though we were right there in the pool with her. And you're right, it's completely silent. Fortunately nothing more happened to her than a good scare and a coughing fit.
Sarai, Barrie, ON

Holy crap Sharon SCARY! Glad Liam is o.k. it's hard to keep your kids in a bubble until they are adults...Life jackets AND helmets til there 22 is what I always say....24/7...the reality is that's impossible. Thanks for sharing and now we've all had a reminder to be extra cautious....as HSB guy always said "Let's be careful out there". JFTB :)
Jenny from the block, Oakville, ON

The same should go when you are visiting someone who has a pool. Even though your children are inside always watch your children to make sure they don't wander outside and climb into the pool.
Debbie, Vancouver, BC

Thank you, thank you for honest post and for the reminder!
Mia, Markham, Ontario

OMG Sharon - I had the same thing happen this year in a pool. Doesn't it scare the crap out of you?! Your post is a great reminder that swimming is fun but it IS a life skill.
Parent Club, Toronto, ON
http://www.parentclub.ca

Sharon, again I appreciate your comments. I only wish that those who chose to leave rude and ignorant comments would back them up by leaving their real name. If you are too afraid to leave your name don't leave a comment. You don't need an IQ test for that.
Kelli Daisy, Ottawa, Ontario
http://www.yummymummyclub.ca/kelli_daisy_scene_and_heard

I want to thank everyone for taking the time to leave comments and share your own experiences with kids and water. It's easy to be lulled into a false sense of security because you're only a few feet away from the pool but it's a chance that should never be taken.

For Common Sense: I knew when I put my story out there in the internet world I would be receive comments, both good and bad. It's the crux of having a blog. I made a careless mistake and the consequences could have been devastating to my family - that has haunted me every day since it happened. I hoped by sharing this story, I could turn it around somewhat by making other parents aware flotation devices are a must - not just while in a boat or beside deep water - but when they are around any water. Even when the parents are right there.

My last hope is that you made a harsh judgement about my intelligence because you had anonymity and that you show more compassion and less judgement to the people who surround you in your every day life.

Sharon , Ontario, Canada
http://www.yummymummyclub.ca/the_inside_scoop

Given that I've had the pleasure of meeting Liam reading this hit me pretty hard. I'm thrilled that in the end everything was fine and I'm sure that you and everyone else reading will take a lot away from your words.
Eric Novak, Ajax, ON
http://www.yummymummyclub.ca/eric_novak_whos_your_daddy

Sharon, thanks so much for sharing your story. I was unfortunate enough to be staying at that hotel in Gananoque this summer at the same time that mother and her two children drowned. Do you remember that on the news? I can't get the image out of my mind of what must have happened while my family was happily eating breakfast in the other room.

It haunts me to think that this family couldn't swim, aad in efforts to try to save one another, they must have all pulled at each other. They didn't take public lessons because it's not in their culture to be 'seen' in public wearing bathing suits.

I hope this raises awareness that we must teach our children to swim, and every adult must be diligent in watching out for their children. Drowning can happen SO fast. Thank you for sharing what I'm sure was a difficult story. But it's so important. It's so true that we become a little bit careless when faced with a social situation like a pool party. I have a cottage, and I know I can admit to running up to the cottage to grab a drink or something thinking "It's just a minute". It's so easy to think, "Oh we're all around, someone's watching" but in fact everyone thinks everyone else is watching. Thanks for the reminder, Sharon

Meghan, Toronto, ON

Thank you for posting this. Really reminds other parents to get more careful to watch their children whenever they get near water.
rkdsign88, Jakarta, Indonesia
www.rkdsign88.blogspot.com

I'm glad it worked out well - I hope everyone recovers. I had a similar experience but I had a hero in my son (approx. 8 yrs at the time) who held his little sister up by the arm until I could get to her. He was only able to bob her up and down and it was seconds but they were truly the longest seconds of my life. My daughter always wears a life jacket now and it gives her greater confidence in the pool but actually gives me more pause for potentially false confidence. The kids love to swim but it is a great source of anxiety for me. I actually have been planning on swimming lessons for myself this year because I want to feel more confident in these situations. All the best!
Patti, Ottawa, Ontario

Thank you for sharing. Most people believe that a toddler/preschooler will splash around to get air as they go under. In fact it is the opposite. They are totally dependent on you and will slip under the water silently, look up & patiently wait for you to get them. I was a swim instructor/lifeguard for 14 years. I saw it happen time and again. Thankfully, you caught him in time!
Leah Esplen, Surrey, BC
www.mommymoves.com

My heart went out to you. Thank you for sharing this story. I hope everyone in the family is okay now. My son (the Pisces) is fearless, too, and I've been told, and as you found out, they are the ones we need to worry about the most, because, well...because they are fearless around water. His swim lessons got canceled because of the City strike but thank you for reminding me to get off my butt and find him lessons pronto.
Grace, toronto, ontario
www.tykethreads.com

1) all the lessons will do will scare him further, I Know, my mom made me take them and it does no good. 2) anyone can drown-even good swimmers can- I saw my grandma(champion swimmer) almost drown once when she lost her footing. 3) if you pray, then after child falls asleep, go in his room and pray that the white light of the Holy Spirit (or who ever you pray too) will take away his fear and give him strength.

Glad that you learned from this mistake and that he is alive. Instead of swimming lessons, let him do an enjoyable activity that will foster his confidence in other ways. Good Luck and blessings to you.

Michelle, Lake Charles, LA

Thank goodness we have the opportunity to learn from our mistakes, and others when they share them the way you have.

Thank-you for writing this and putting out there even though it means giving other people the opportunity to judge.

FTR, I think if you have a nasty comment to make about someone's heart-wrenching experience, I think you should at least put your name on it and be brave enough to be judged like Sharon has.

Maureen , Georgetown, Ontario

Sharon, I'm so relieved that this is just a cautionary tale about Liam and not a tragedy. This is why we read honest, genuine blogs written by other moms...because we can love our kids, care for them and shelter them from so much but we ALL make mistakes. A moment's distraction, an assumption that someone else is watching...and the story changes in a heartbeat. When we tell the truth we make other people think. If it helps us all keep our kids safer, all the better.
Jen (@littlemissmocha), Winnipeg, MB

My girlfriend said the same thing. She was in her pool one day with her son when all of a sudden he went under - no flailing, no noise, just a sudden drop. She was amazed at how quickly and quiet it was, and she said the same thing about the life jacket. I have a pool and paid to get it fenced this year because of the anxiety it caused me. I appreciate your speaking out as many people will benefit from what you had to say.
Kelli Daisy, Ottawa, ON
http://www.yummymummyclub.ca/kelli_daisy_scene_and_heard

Hi Sharon I absolutely agree: when children are in or near water, absolute attention is best. And I encourage you to cut yourself a bit of slack. None of us is perfect; we all have our moments of distractions; we all tend to presume things we shouldn't.

I can guarantee you that anyone who raises kids to adulthood has a list of 'near miss' stories to tell. The bad news, therefore, is that this isn't likely the last mistake you are going to make. I'm sure that it'll take you all some time to feel emotionally grounded after this experience. It'll probably take you parents a lot longer to get over it than it will your child who actually had the experience! I sure hope that you find a way to find an equilibrium point with your 'near miss' and the fact that, as parents, none of us is perfect.

Please don't think I am underestimating the seriousness of this experience for you or for your son. But I hope that you don't end up doing what a lot of my coaching clients have ended up doing because of their momentary lapses: beat themselves up endlessly. On a more general note, I am endlessly fascinated by how it frequently it ends up being the person with a fear of something who literally gets 'dumped into the deep end of the pool' regarding the thing they fear/dislike/find revolting. It is almost as if their very strong feelings actually is involved in creating the experience. It is a phenomenon I see time and again in my coaching practice. I'm glad you all came out of this experience wiser and safe! Hope you all enjoy the rest of summer.

Gwen McCauley, Ottawa, Ontario
www.gwenmccauley.ca

I had the exact same experience with my daughter Charlotte. She has no fear of the water. While in Maui enjoying the sun she jumped into a very busy pool and sunk to the bottom. Like you we did not notice for about a minute. The most mixed emotional day of my life. We got her out and learned a very important lesson. You are 100% right never have them at a pool without a lifejacket if they cannot swim.
Martha Scully, Nanaimo, BC
www.Canadiansitter.ca

We have a pool and anytime the kids are around the pool, the life jackets AND arm floaties go on. If i go inside, everyone needs to come out of the pool and follow mamma duck. My ducklings are allowed to wait on the deck, away from the pool, but i prefer they follow me inside. thank the dear lord that your little one is here with you. God bless your husband
CC, Toronto, ON

Big pool parties with little kids and lots of adults have always made me nervous. Now I know why. It seems like the more grown up eyes there are, the more we think that someone else is watching the kids. Life jackets are a must. Thanks for the reminder.
Rebecca (Playground Confidential), Toronto, ON
playgroundconfidential.com

You never think it could happen to you, or, as you point out in your article, in your mind's eye it plays out differently so you're unprepared. I hope everyone reads and remembers what you've shared with us here. I'm so glad Liam's OK.
Natalie, Mississauga, ON
www.erinmillsliving.blogspot.com

Yeah, this is pretty straightforward. The fact you didn't know this and the fact that you felt the need to tell other people really reinforces the idea that IQ tests need to be handed out before people get pregnant.
Common sense, Here, AB

Thanks for sharing. Had the same experience this wkend with my 2 1/2 yr old nephew - even with two adults 3 feet away from him in the pool. It can happen so quickly if you're not paying attention. Fortunately both stories have happy endings.
Liz, Patterson, NY
www.houlihanlawrenceblog.com

Thank goodness he is OK. That must have been terrifying. Thank you for the post. It is an excellent reminder of how quickly these things can happen.
Shari Storm, seattle, washington
www.thenewmba.blogspot.com

Terrifying. My family has some photos of me about to almost drown which cause a little laughter and tears. We can laugh now because I'm 20 years older than I was, but when I was 3 it wasn't funny. This was at the beach, just playing in the surf. What mom & aunt didn't realize was that the waves were knocking me over, I wasn't just getting up and down to play. After a couple pictures, they saw me start coughing up seawater and immediately ran in, got me, and I was just fine. I'm glad that you could write this cautionary tale as an "almost." *bighugs*
Mrs. Micah, Washington, DC
http://www.mrsmicah.com

Made my heart skip a beat... Wow. Thank-you for sharing this Sharon
Scott Stratten, Oakville, ON
http://www.un-marketing.com/blog/