Don't underestimate the power of this beauty

Yesterday was a pretty terrifying day for us. The water was calm. The kids were enjoying themselves; boogie boarding and wave riding. We were watching the waves that were getting bigger and bigger. The kids were about waist high. The break of the huge waves that were coming in looked odd, we thought. The kids looked like they were in a safe calm place. Ashton was a few feet in front of Amelia when all of a sudden Ashton got taken in by a rip tide. I ran in after him. He was pulled pretty far out, well over his head. Ashton THANK GOD can swim. As I was running in after him I got taken in by the rip tide. I was helplessly getting clobbered by huge wave after wave. Losing sight of Ashton, horrified. As soon as I would get remotely near him I would get clobbered by another wave, as we'll as him. We were only in the water a few minutes before a lifeguard reached us. Still a few minutes longer than I ever wanted to experience that horror. I thought I lost my baby. I could hear him struggling, gasping, choking...it was the most horrifying experience I've ever had to go through. Today he's safe, I'm safe, but still a little shook up. After this, both my children will never enter the water without life jackets. I don't care if they can swim or not! The power of that water weakened me to my knees. Fighting those waves EXHAUSTED me. Ashton looked so shocked, scared, and exhausted himself. It was only a few minutes. So, please just remember this beautiful ocean can turn ugly in the blink of an eye. Take all precautions - I know from here on out I will be.