We were swimming in the big pool at gym today because the little one was closed, so no step at the side. Grace was holding onto the wall and moving across to get onto the ladder to get out of the pool. I think she misjudged the distance and went under as she tried to put her foot onto the ladder. She was still holding onto the side with one hand as she went under and it was just a moment before I pulled her up, but I think the cold water made her gasp as she went under. She was clearly fine as I pulled her out, just a bit of water down the wrong way – a bit more than she has ever had before.

After she had settled, and we had a serious conversation about closing her mouth and blowing out when she goes under (as she knows and is taught to do) we carried on and enjoyed some more swimming until she was too cold to swim on. She loved her time in the water, even with the minor incident.

For me, I question whether I was paying enough attention? Does too little sleep mean I am not as sharp as I need to be? Could I have gotten to her a little bit sooner and prevented any water breathing? On the one hand I do need to get more sleep and be as sharp as I can be, and at the same time – regardless of my questions – it was minor and gave Grace's brain a chance to put some dots together about not breathing under water.