Sometimes he can be so defiant!

Ugh!! Let me vent...I took my kids to meet Mimi, Biggin' & Dakota (Biggin's grandson) at the pool. We swam and swam...for about 1.5 hours. During the car ride over, I told the kids that we wouldn't be swimming for a long time b/c we'd have dinner and then have to go home for bath & bed. Both understood...I thought! Anyway, we swam and swam...then our dinner came and we all eat together.
Holt decides, almost through w/ his meal, that he was going to swim again. I reminded him that no, we were not getting back in b/c it was going to be getting late and we needed to head home. Mimi & Biggin' even told him that that was their plan too. He stood up and slowly walked over to the water. Looking back he says "Well, I'm just going to get in by myself then." I say "son, no, we are done w/ the pool." Still walking, he steps in, first step, second step, totally submerged, swimming around. By now, my blood is boiling at the fact that he is being so defiant. However, I sit there, actually trying to think of something really good to do to teach him why. Here's my thinking: If I just up and leave then Adly and I don't get to enjoy our poolside dinner and we leave Mimi, Biggin' & Dakota. What can I take away from him when we get home b/c of this choice?...etc., etc.
Mimi to the rescue..."Maybe you could have the lifeguard talk to him." (Mind you, all of this happens in a matter of about 5 minutes...I'm not just leaving my 5 year old swimming in the pool b/c I'm pissed or anything.) I jump up at the good idea and head over to the lifeguard. I explain the situation and he agrees to talk w/ him about pool safety. As I walk off he asks his name. I don't even turn to look at Holt, but he notices what I was doing. He jets out of the pool and sits back down and the table and begins gobbling the remains of his dinner.
A few minutes pass and the lifeguard comes over and says "Holt, I saw that you got into the pool when your mom told you not to. It is not safe for you to do that alone. Okay? You need to listen to your mom." Holt doesn't really look up and says "yes"...In which I say "you say, yes, sir." He repeats and we thank the guard. For the rest of the time he is mannerly, cooperative and even asks to help carry out some of our gear.
That is Holt in a nutshell. He is strong willed!! But, he listens to authority...which, obviously to him, isn't me. On to that train of thought another time. But for now...good job, Mimi! I love that kid, but wow, can he be hard to handle sometimes!
p.s. Happy Birthday, Terri!