Water

Naturally, water is our friend. We are made of 99.3% water. Without it we are merely dust. We use it to cook, clean, drink, bathe, and many more functions. But sometimes, as our news of late shows, water turns against us.

Duluth has had some insane rains lately, which means washed-out roads, swelling rivers, and flash floods. Two mothers have lost their babies to the water: one young swimmer in the public pool in Cloquet, the other a teen swimming in the Lester River. Several "near-drownings" have presented to the hospital, as they do every summer in the Land of 10,000 Lakes.

Now, I know some Bible thumper somewhere is puffing out his chest, caressing the backyard ark he has been just waiting to use. The neighbors laughed at him for building it, but now they are thinking it might not have been such a bad idea. But lets not get that out-of-control just yet.

Water happens. Its necessary to most all the functions of life. Go a day without it, I dare you. Go two days and you will want nothing more than a tall cold glass of the tasty wet stuff. But watch your kids when they swim. Easier said than done, I know, but it is worth it, every second of the scanning of the surface of the pool or lake they are in, to not have to pull them from it. To never have to do CPR on a drowned child is not a dream that most mothers have, but it is one of mine.

Please, if your child can't swim, or isn't a strong swimmer, take them to swimming lessons. Make them wear a lifejacket, even if it isn't cool. Because its much better to be uncool and alive than the most awesome dead kid ever, I promise. Explain to them why they can't go in rivers after heavy rains. Most importantly, watch them like hawks in the water.

My heart breaks for the families of these children who have died in the water. I cannot fathom the anguish and despair they must feel. I hope I never have to find out what it feels like.