I’m a Magnet, I Tell You!

While some guys pride themselves on being chick magnets – whether it’s because they drive a hot car, have a hot body, have a great personality (ha!), or (more than likely) simply make a lot of money – I have the distinct honor of being another sort of magnet.

Yes, in my attempt at being the fun Auntie in the kiddie pool with Audrey’s boys at the pool club, I have inadvertently gained a cult following among the 3-feet-and-under set.

I have become a kid magnet.

More specifically, an other-peoples’-kids magnet.

It is quite ironic, given that I have no human kids of my own (my four-legged kids are only allowed in the doggy pool at my house!).

But as soon as I step foot in the “piss pool,” as my husband calls it, I become somewhat of a pied piper of children.

Perhaps it’s because I’m usually the only adult in the kiddie pool at all (do the mothers barely submerging their toes in the water know something I don’t?).

Perhaps they mistake me for one of their own because of my girlish figure (ha! – unlikely!).

Perhaps it’s the fact that I simply give them the time of day when they ask me to fetch a toy that has found its way into the drain filter.

Whatever it is, I just can’t escape my role of “Auntie to All.”

Just the other day, while I tried to split my time between William (”chase me, Auntie Janie!”) and Alex (”no dunk!” after he accidentally dunked himself), I also had to contend with any or all of the following at the same time:

- My new 4-year-old friend Abigail stealing my yellow pail, only to turn on me and use the pail to splash water on me (mind you, her father watched the whole time and kind of creeped me out)

- My new 5-year-old friend Zach begging me to pour water on his head with a toy watering can (whatever floats your boat, kid!)

- My new name-unknown friend of about 4 years asking me to get rid of the bugs in the water (sorry kid, not in the job description)

- The little boy (parents’ whereabouts unknown) whose white beach hat had blown away, crying to me to, “Get hat! Get hat!” (which I did because, I repeat, parents’ whereabouts unknown!)

Look, we all have our callings.

Did I expect that mine would entail endless hours of kiddies, sun, games, pool toys, water hoses – and disturbingly warm kiddie pool water? Not really.

But I just roll with the punches.

I’m a kid magnet. It’s my hook. It’s my milieu.

So now I’m off to the pool club. Need to find me?

Just follow your kids!

**Don’t forget to enter our Summer Bling! contest!
**And congrats to Jennifer M., who is the winner of our Once Upon a Family Love Notes box contest!