It's summertime and the living's easy, right? Well, maybe a bit easier. For a lot of families, school is out, and there's a bit more free time to do what they want. Warmer weather means more time outside and lazy days at the pool.
What mom doesn't love that? Colorado mom of two boys Neely Gracey sure does. She posted her hot take about pool days on her Instagram @neelysgracey account, and it got people worked up.
Not only does Gracey love taking her sons to the pool, but she also loves that it doubles as a bath. Some people wholeheartedly agree that a pool can substitute for the tub, but others think the suggestion is totally disgusting. Gracey told Today she was shocked that a post intended to be silly was so controversial.
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Millions of people saw her post.
She and her husband, Dillon, posed for a quick pic that she included in the video with the caption, "Happy 'the pool counts as a bath' season to all who participate!" The reel cuts to sons Athens, 5, and Rome, 2, enjoying water time at the Colorado family's neighborhood pool.
The video has been viewed 8.5 million times, which Gracey claimed she never expected. She said she shared it because pools were opening up for the summer across the United States, and she thought it was a funny anecdote.
She told Today, "I in no way posted this to create the level of controversy that it apparently did."
The video was just in good fun.
The mom of two and running coach said that bath time can be challenging for families, so she thought she'd make a joke about pool time.
"Every parent knows the epic battles that ensue from trying to get your kids into the bath and then trying to get them out of the bath," she told Today. "It's two separate battles every single time. I just wanted to give parents permission to have fun with their kids this summer."
Gracey added that she absolutely bathes her kids, and the backlash was a little much. "In all honesty, it's so funny that people took it so seriously. I had no idea it was going to turn into what it did," she said.
The video sparked a heated debate among parents and swimmers.
Some loved the idea.
This person wrote, "It counts for me as a mom! I run. I hop in the pool. I'm disinfected. It's been my motto for 21+ years now, since I had my first."
And this one agreed, "Heck yes."
This person likes a quick shower: "No bath for my kids, just a good rinse off!!"
Some people believe it is a cultural thing.
Plenty of comments pointed to the fact that Gracey is white.
Like this one: "Very white if you . . ."
And this: "This is yt culture for sure. Bathe them babies."
This one, too: "this a crazy level of white."
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More people were offended by the idea than those who agreed with it.
Gracey received more grief than praise for her post.
"Noooo wayyy man. Pool day means it is DEFINITELY a tubby night for my kiddos. So gross, chemicals, sunscreen, sweat, pee, salt, etc ," someone wrote.
This person thought it was totally gross: "This might be worse than the people who only bathe their kids once a week."
"I never want to shower harder than after a long day at the pool or the beach ," someone else shared.
Listen, we aren't here to judge. A mom's got to do what a mom's got to do. We've done it too, so don't feel bad. Sometimes it's just not worth the fight.
