Living about four hours from what is probably the nearest natural base of water, obviously life jackets are an important thing to me. In a few years, I’d like to take my boys down to the Gulf — as soon as I can see that both of them are age-appropriate proficient swimmers, this is definitely a thought. However, that in no way means that I’m going to let them get away with not wearing life jackets! Those, to me, are absolute necessities. I don’t care how well you swim or what you tell me. If you’re under my care, you’re wearing one whenever you’re out in anything that comes up to… oh, waist level, I want to say? And even still, depending on the heights of each of my two boys, that right there may be questionable. I mean, especially with my easily distracted youngest?

I’ve also read a lot of stories about drowning accidents, too. I mean, what person — what parent — isn’t going to want to do their part to make sure their children are as safe in the water as they can possibly be? Although I’ve been fortunate enough only to read near-drowning accident stories that have to do with adults, still. I don’t think I could handle a kid one. But come on now, folks.