All morning Rob was saying he was excited about visiting the pool and, as a result, was going to go there about 12 before we have lunch. The walk from our house, across the new foot bridge that links Penarth to Cardiff, past the Canoe Centre (as Rob calls it) and to the pool was wonderful. Rob didn't stop talking and every so often he would say he was excited.
We arrived at the pool, paid, got changed and entered the fun pool area and it was then I did notice Rob was starting to look a bit worried. So, I thought we should take it easy and not push things too quickly. We went for a little paddle in the shallow end, which he wasn't too sure about and wouldn't sit down, even though I did. At one point he went up to his waist, but didn't stay there long.
We then explored the area a bit more, walking around the pool, carefully avoiding all the splashes and water that was spraying all over the place. One thing he wanted to do was go on the little kiddies slide as he likes slides in the park. We did go up the steps once to it, but he changed his mind so we came back down. After a few more minutes he went back there, queued with the other children ready to go down the slide. There was a sign saying maximum height 1.1 meters, but I did see another dad go down the slide with his son, so I thought it would be OK for me to go down with Robert.
Big mistake! The slide was faster than I thought and I let go of Robert and we both went down the slide. Firstly Rob entered the little pool at the bottom then I followed, creating what looked like a small tidal wave. Rob went under the water and my wave went over him. Then he screamed, he was not happy with that at all. Later on, I did ask him what he didn't like about the slide and he said he did not like the water going in his mouth and eyes.
I carried him away from the slide and took him to quiet area to let him calm down. He eventually did stop crying, but all he kept saying was "I don't like the pool" and "I want to go home". So, after a few minutes of this we went back to the changing area to dry ourself's off and get ready to come home. As we were drying ourself's I noticed blood on his towel, but thankfully it was from me and not him, I hit both my elbows on the edge of the slide as I was coming down!
We then went to cafeteria to try and have something to eat, but by this point Rob was still unhappy and he was also getting very tired. So, we came home so that both of us could have a nap.
I have now got a huge bruise forming on my left elbow where I banged it on the slide, but thankfully my right elbow has stopped bleeding and will not leave much of a scar. The kiddies slide is not designed for adults!
On a positive note, when he woke up the experience did not scare him too much as he did say he wants to go swimming again, just not on the slide. So, I might take him again, not this weekend as I'm busy but possible the following weekend.
Next: Acceptance & 24 Hour Track Race
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