Comments on: Luck And Loss

By: The Retired One

The Retired One — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 15:18:24 +0000

That is AWFUL. It is such a tragedy. I believe some states have a law that a house cannot be sold with a pool unless it has a gate/fence surrounding the pool that can be locked. I think that is the safest way…that way parents can padalock the fenced in pool until someone goes out with a key and supervises children when it is in use.
Did you see the news about the number of deaths of babies that get their necks tangled in blind’s cords? It was also scary. They get it around their necks and then hang from them accidentally. UGH. So many dangers out there for them.
As a grandma, it adds to my list of worries and emails to my poor daughter.
.-= The Retired One´s last blog ..Travel Observations =-.

By: Janice @ Mom On The Run

Janice @ Mom On The Run — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 21:04:47 +0000

I have been tweeting with @military_mom for a long time (18 months is a long time in the twitter world). She helped me cope through my husband’s frequent travels tremendously so I feel like I know her, about as much as I feel I know you – we tweet, I read your blog etc…. When I first saw her tweet my heart sank and I bawled my eyes out. It was Monday, and we were on our way, ironically enough, out the door to my girls’ swimming lessons. My husband also cried when he heard the news, he’s heard me speak of how Shellie has supported and encouraged me. This is so tragic and awful!!

We also have a pool – it’s fenced separate from the house and even I can barely get the gate open, but non-the-less it’s still a danger. BOTH of my children have fallen in. My oldest was three and fell in carrying an armful of pool noodles while helping us clean up the yard – my philosphy is that any toys in the pool will lure a child in. We take all the toys out after a swim, but on that day she fell in while helping us clean up. She was ok. My youngest feel in at 2 – we were changing to go in, she took a step backwards and fell straight to the bottem. I was a lifeguard in University – I paid my way through school sitting in a chair watching people swim. I have never ever rescued anyone – except my two year old daughter. I jumped in, pulled her out and began rescue breathing. I was home alone with the kids that day. I swear if I hadn’t had my NLS training, my daughter would be dead like Bryson. These things happen so quickly, I was right there with her.

It sickens me that people didn’t believe and it sickens me more that people are blaming her! Contrary to belief drowning does not make a sound, and can happen in a blink of an eye. The most common cause of death is secondary drowning – water in the lungs from being in the pool.

I really wish at this time I lived closer to Shellie, so I could be there for her. My heart aches for her and her loss.
.-= Janice @ Mom On The Run´s last blog ..The Glasses of Self-Doubt =-.

By: Janet

Janet — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 13:27:00 +0000

I don’t twitter, so I missed all that, but I am amazed that anyone could think such an awful thing was a hoax. Karma is real people, and yours is coming. You never get over the loss of a child – my aunt died at age 3 months 67 years ago and my grandmother still tears up about it. I would too.
.-= Janet´s last blog ..Of Pups, Spaceships, a Pumpkin Patch and Marriages and Things =-.

By: Jessica (@ It's my life...)

Jessica (@ It's my life...) — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 06:59:26 +0000

Pools have always terrified me. My inlaws have one and I’m obsessed with checking that the gate is locked and the cover is tightly closed. I’m glad your little one was ok. And my heart breaks for Shellie that she wasn’t so lucky.

As for the evil people online today? I hope they get what they deserve, the shunning of the amazing community that can be found online.
.-= Jessica (@ It’s my life…)´s last blog ..Support is support no matter where it comes from =-.

By: Karie

Karie — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 05:50:33 +0000

What is so sad is all these posts to confirm the situation. What is even more sad is that while she did “reach out” to people on Twitter, this opened the door to a barrage of attacks in her worst moment. While maybe an idle attempt to reach sanity during her moment of shock, awe, and “this isn’t happening” the door opened for such a terrible backlash.

I too have a pool, I made DAMN sure of the pool fence before I bought the house 6 years ago. My gates are locked, with a padlock, with no access to the key. Even when my kids go outside daily to play I always check those locks even though I know they are always locked, because time is only a second, a second and they are in the water. So thankful your boy was only at the steps, I know that horror OH SO well. May this event be a reminder to ALWAYS watch our kids around water and I do mean always, life and that of our children is so precious.
.-= Karie´s last blog ..Wordful/Wordless Wednesday =-.

By: Babybloomr

Babybloomr — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 03:28:17 +0000

GOOD FOR YOU for saying what any honest mom should say in a situation like this– there but for the grace of God go I. I defy any parent anywhere to honestly say that they have at least one eye on their child every single moment of that child’s life. No one has. And all it takes is one blink of an eye for something terrible to happen. I have a dear friend, a wonderful, involved, careful mother who lost her two year old son to drowning 5 years ago at a family gathering. It will haunt her for the rest of her life. It is unthinkable that anyone, anywhere would dare criticize or idly speculate about another mother in the middle of such a horrific tragedy.
.-= Babybloomr´s last blog ..WEEKLY WRAP-UP =-.

By: Heather

Heather — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 02:19:43 +0000

I’m glad you posted this, it is a good reminder. I learned of Shellie’s loss last night on Twitter also, and was so shocked and dismayed at some of the responses today. I don’t know her, but she has been in my thoughts since I learned of the loss of her son – I can’t get her off of my mind. My heart is just broken to pieces for her and her family.

By: LZ

LZ — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 01:59:25 +0000

It' a tragic story, no matter what. My heart goes out to her... .-= LZ´s last blog ..I love ugly ornaments =-.

By: Miss Behavin

Miss Behavin — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 23:34:26 +0000

Ugh! I can't imagine, nor do I want to. My thoughts and prayers are with her and her family. .-= Miss Behavin´s last blog ..Top 10 Must-Read Posts of 2009 =-.

By: Another Suburban Mom

Another Suburban Mom — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 23:28:27 +0000

That poor woman. I cannot believe that people would believe that she would fake the most horrible nightmare of anyone. I am also glad that your incident ended up with a mere spank. Pools are so scary. .-= Another Suburban Mom´s last blog ..Erotica-Group Post =-.