We went to a beautiful beach on the Gulf of Mexico.  It was crowded with people who all smelled like coconuts.  No one was in the water except for our four children.  The youngest was in water over waist deep.  It was hot, and I was sleepily watching them.

Suddenly I snapped awake.  I saw two fins sticking above the surface of the water swimming in a circle around all four of the kids!  I got up and ran into the water toward the fins and the kids.  People on shore yelled: “SHARKS”.  The kids saw the fins as I reached them.  Adrenaline let me grab all four and drag them to shore in a hurry.  I was wearing a “mom” bathing suit of spandex and baubles and bangles that made me into a fishing lure.  I thought that if one of the sharks was going to bite one of us it would have been me.

The two fins were rounded, not pointed.  “DOLPHINS” I yelled.  I never again allowed my kids under my watchful eyes enter the ocean again.  I did some research as well.  There are 28 species of sharks in Floridian waters.  Just think twice.  It is hard work to raise kids, and though rare, a hungry shark can eat one or two.  I also realized that if a dolphin can swim in rather shallow water, so can a shark.