The first time I went to the beach with a baby I could see how different it was going to be without children. It was not my baby, but that of some friends, and apart from the much more complex organizational preliminaries that delayed the departure a minimum of one hour (although I attest that these can be shortened enough) is the issue of staying on the beach with babies.
When my baby arrived and on the first day at the beach, dismembered by me, I didn't have too much those trips to the beach with my friends' baby.
So, along with everything necessary for the well-being of the little girl, read food, drink, shadow, toys ... I took what I used to take to the beach when I went without children. Nothing from the other world, a magazine, a book, a comfortable seat, a head pad, some diving goggles ... Things that, of course, were left unused and that, illusive of me, I brought back to the beach some Another day ... just in case.
Two years after that, and with another baby in the family, the books, the seats, the pads, the glasses, are left for another occasion and do not take up space in the already reduced free place that we have left for go well loaded to the beach. If I only need to take the bathtub thermometer to check the sea water temperature!
Babies and the sea
The sea water, that balm of Fierabrás that cures everything and so many benefits promises for the skin of the bathers ... But it is not a drunk remedy, my dear babies! I think that most babies the first time they try the water is the first salty thing they put in their mouths, and it must seem fascinating to them.
Because there they are, who seem to know nothing about the occlusion reflex that prevents water from entering the baby's body, hitting sea swallows.
That, voluntarily, if the water is calm, because if some daddy or mommy dares it happens to get along with the baby with waves in the sea, even on the shore, you will know how difficult it is to save the little one from the envy of the sea. Dads, I like the sea, but a little softer, not to hit me and swallow it up!
Babies and the beach sand
And the sand ... that is going to give us headaches. Because we are not talking about children with whom you can play freely in the arena, no.
We are talking about babies who will either scream in fear in front of that new substance that appears before their eyes and under their innkeepers as if they were real killer quicksand, or they will think that it is the most delicious of the delicacies and the most restorative body and hair mask.
"To the mouth nooooo!" It is usually heard on the beach with babies. Well, in any case, they don't usually repeat the menu, so maybe it's not so bad that we let them experiment ... and also with the seaweed! It is the best way for them to lose their fear of what, for now, is unknown to them.
Finally, I think we spend more time in knowing how we fix the sand problem that sneaks into the most unexpected places of luggage, parents and girls before leaving the beach than in enjoying it.
Sometimes I say Gomaespuma's saying: "I wish the beach was tiled!" And always thinking: "Next time, pool!" But that is another story…
A secret: on the stone beaches We dodge that problem, although on the contrary we must watch that the stones that are brought to the mouth (because that does not change) do not exceed the size of the humanly swallowable possible.
Anyway, those days of sun and beach lying down reading quietly and exploring the seabed are over ... welcome the days of beach with babies without rest and that activate all our senses and spend the energy we had for the whole day! Welcome buckets, shovels, rakes, sleeves and sandcastles!
Because even with everything we want to return, even in a way so different ... Thank you for continuing to make me love the beach, daughters!
Photos | Eva Paris
