The scene stopped me cold.

Seven children splashed in the crystal-blue pool. They wore matching bright red and blue swimsuits. New water guns gleamed in their hands. Pool noodles and inflatable toys bobbed around them like colorful confetti.

All of them were having a good time… except one.

Timmy sat alone on a lounge chair around 20 feet away. He wore his old gray pants and a plain t-shirt. No swimsuit. No toys. His small shoulders hunched forward as he stared at his bare feet.

“Timmy! Sweetie!”

His head snapped up. Relief flooded his face as he ran to me.

“Mom! You came!”

I knelt down and pulled him close. His hair smelled like chlorine, but his clothes were bone dry.

“Why aren’t you swimming, baby?”