[jo-v]

Picture us getting in the pool this morning, me acclimatising, (water blooming cold) and DD standing on the step, all floatied up waiting for me to stop squealing. Out of the corner of my eye I see something skim across the top of the water towards DD, it then proceeds to climb up under her floatie jacket. Said object is a medium sized blooming huntsman!!! Do I calmly remove DDs jacket and vacate offending spider...?

No, I stand frozen in fear with the realisation that the nasty little buggers CAN WALK ON WATER!

Luckily by the time I came to my senses it had hopped out and swum/walked/flew to the side of the pool and disappeared under the bricks, shudder.

DD was oblivious, I am now refusing to swim without a full body wetsuit.

[Sinister Bonnet]

I once threw a boogie board in the water and on the underside were several redbacks ::shudder:: Now I check them carefully when they have been under the palm trees.

[Lokum]

I fear failure as a mother when it comes to spiders. I think I'm up for sleep issues, illness, drug use, teen pregnancies.
But what the hell would I do in a significant spider situation? Hit the spider on my child with a heavy broom? Run away screaming? Lock it (baby and spider) in a room with a towel across the bottom of the door until DH gets home?
We had one near DS2 last week but luckily the bassinet is on wheels so I could push him out with me... Otherwise i might have left him to his fate.

[BadCat]

I hate that spiders can walk on water. That's not even remotely fair and sensible.

Did you know that funnelwebs on the bottom of the pool might still be alive. They fall in the water and catch air bubbles in their hairy abdomens, then as they sink they can still breathe. They have been known to live for 24-36 hours in a pool so never assume a hairy old spider at the bottom of the pool is dead.

*shudder*

[Old Grey Mare]

I'd be filling in the pool.

[Stellajoy]

I'd be throwing out the jacket and contemplating chucking the child as well.

then i would set my pool on fire

[CharliMarley]

Yes, burn your pool and swim at the local swimming pool without spiders.

[jo-v]

lol, I think all the above flashed through my mind as logical solutions to the problem.

Plan B was find a very long stick and try to dislodge it while staying a good arms length away from DD!