It was 8am.
I was laying in bed sleeping (I have an upstairs room facing the backyard) and I am awakened to talking that sounds like my child outside. Surely, not my child because I hadn’t heard her wake up, she hadn’t come in our room, hadn’t turned on the TV downstairs, nothing. I am not a heavy sleeper by any means. Her door opening would have usually triggered me.
I listened again.
Then I knew I heard her for sure and it was coming from outside. I got up and looked outside through the blinds and she was standing on the pool ladder, on the top, in her pajamas.
I have never flown more fast out of my bed and downstairs. As I rounded the backdoor, she was coming inside. I wanted to yell at her and I couldn’t it was so scary.
I told her that she couldn’t ever ever go outside alone (that was the first thing) and never get in the pool without us. We talked to her about this when we first got it too.
She said “I was just touching it”. In her mind, she was not getting in the pool, she was just ‘touching the water’ and coming back inside. She was still minding what we told her. I never thought how literal she would take what we told her. At 4 years old, she doesn’t comprehend that she can still fall in, hit her head, and die. Or get her leg caught in the ladder and fall face forward and drown.
My DH was telling her there are things in life you cant control. Its not always about what your intentions are.
My heart is still racing.
Really, what if…
~Trisha
UPDATED ON JULyY 3rd
We got door alarms. 
Oh how scary. My son has done similar things to us, not the pool though. It really is scary.
OMG now my heart is racing. THank goodness you woke and heard her. and she didn’t get hurt or fall in.
I was babysitting once in high school when I heard something outside and opened the heavy curtains to see that the THREE YEAR OLD had snuck out a side door after bedtime and was reaching out into the pool.
I’ve never been so relieved. Just imagining what could have happened.
Glad your babygirl is okay. My son hasnt figured out how to open doors and I’m grateful.
Very scary! I would have just sat down and cried. I am not sure what I would do besides getting latches to put on the tops of all the doors that way she could not get outside. Count your blessings.
Wow! I know that was a scare to you. We have an above ground pool in our backyard too, and I think I ‘d have a heart attack! Luckily, everything is okay. I have to take the ladder down just because I want to be safe, with 3 kids they scatter every which way, ya know!
Wow, you just never know what the next day will bring with kids. Not sure I would have been able to hold my cool in that situation…we’ve brought up the subject many times here about not leaving the house or opening the doors to outside without asking first. Still, they have their own little minds.
OMG, I would have freaked totally out! I am glad everything is OK!
((hugs))
Scary! A new door latch, perhaps?
Oh man. That is so scary. I can’t imagine how scared you must have been.