We headed back out on the boat to what the kids call "shell island." It's a great little island to collect beautiful shells.
Mason got a turn at the wheel....You'll notice in most pictures of Maya with her life jacket, she is holding the top of it. She really didn't like the way it fit, I guess and was constantly pulling it down from her face when she was sitting. 
We made it to shell island and began our hunt and collection.
We made it to shell island and began our hunt and collection. 
Maya wanted to show me lots of shells and most times wanted me to take a picture of them too.
As were driving away from shell island, Maya and Parker were hanging their feet off the side of the boat. Wendy was at the wheel while Chris went to the back of the boat to clean off his muddy shoes. Brian and Derek had moved away from the wheel for some reason at this short period of time as well. I'm sitting there watching Maya and Parker, but sitting probably 3 feet away from them. In slow motion I see Maya attempt to dip her foot into the water....and she goes overboard. I stand up and start screaming to stop the boat. At the very same time Chris sees Maya float by....he yells at Wendy to stop or turn around or something, I don't know. I'm trying to find Brian on this small boat but I can't take my eyes off Maya in the big ocean by herself.....getting further away each second. I am SO THANKFUL for the life vest that she so much disliked. I'm completely panicked.... and am considering jumping in myself... but common sense kept taking over what I wanted to naturally do. I didn't have a life vest on. I can swim well, but what if they couldn't get back to me and Maya, being so scared over took me, what if I took her under, etc., etc... and just as I was about to jump in that water the boat turned around and we were headed back for Maya. The whole time I'm yelling toward her, "it's okay, your okay, we are coming back" over and over and over, but she is terrified, screaming and crying. We pull her aboard, she's shaken. I hold her tight and love her. A few moments in after she calmed down I explained how the life vest kept her safe. A little later she told me she believed in life vests or something like that. I don't know that I'll ever have trouble getting one on her again.
After everyone's blood pressure was back to normal, we decided maybe it would be a good idea to stop the boat and let the kids jump in and swim. We really wanted Maya to know that it's okay to take a swim in the deep blue ocean...we didn't want her to have a fear from then on...
As were driving away from shell island, Maya and Parker were hanging their feet off the side of the boat. Wendy was at the wheel while Chris went to the back of the boat to clean off his muddy shoes. Brian and Derek had moved away from the wheel for some reason at this short period of time as well. I'm sitting there watching Maya and Parker, but sitting probably 3 feet away from them. In slow motion I see Maya attempt to dip her foot into the water....and she goes overboard. I stand up and start screaming to stop the boat. At the very same time Chris sees Maya float by....he yells at Wendy to stop or turn around or something, I don't know. I'm trying to find Brian on this small boat but I can't take my eyes off Maya in the big ocean by herself.....getting further away each second. I am SO THANKFUL for the life vest that she so much disliked. I'm completely panicked.... and am considering jumping in myself... but common sense kept taking over what I wanted to naturally do. I didn't have a life vest on. I can swim well, but what if they couldn't get back to me and Maya, being so scared over took me, what if I took her under, etc., etc... and just as I was about to jump in that water the boat turned around and we were headed back for Maya. The whole time I'm yelling toward her, "it's okay, your okay, we are coming back" over and over and over, but she is terrified, screaming and crying. We pull her aboard, she's shaken. I hold her tight and love her. A few moments in after she calmed down I explained how the life vest kept her safe. A little later she told me she believed in life vests or something like that. I don't know that I'll ever have trouble getting one on her again.
After everyone's blood pressure was back to normal, we decided maybe it would be a good idea to stop the boat and let the kids jump in and swim. We really wanted Maya to know that it's okay to take a swim in the deep blue ocean...we didn't want her to have a fear from then on...
So, Luke, Mason, Maya, and 
Maddox all held hands and
Maddox all held hands and JUMPED in together!! They didn't stay too long because Luke was then stung a few times by a jelly fish. I think he jumped on it. We decided we better go on back...we had enough adventure and excitement for the afternoon.
Wendy & Parker...
Wendy & Parker...Maya and I...so happy to have my girl safe. She sat right with me the rest of the way...
Janet & Berkley...
2 comments:
That is a scary story! Glad she's ok and it looks like you guys had so much fun!
OMG...Amy! I read this with tears in my eyes! That is so scary! Glad everyone is ok!! I bet Maya has a whole new respect for life vests and the ocean!
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