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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be annoyed at this child and family (on holiday)

311 replies

Blueeyedstork · 29/05/2026 00:14

We are in Spain at the moment with another couple and their kids. DH and I have one DS (13)

a bit of backstory relevant to this is when I was 11 I was pushed out of a boat on the lake in the Lake District on a school residential trip and was not allowed to get changed until the rest of the activities that afternoon were finished. So I was wet and freezing cold. It also took someone ages to respond to the fact I had been pushed out the boat, so ever since then I have had a phobia of cold water and being out my depth. It’s got to the point where a single spash can freak me out so I stay out of the pool as I know it’s unreasonable on a family resort to ask kids not to splash. it’s my problem and I deal with it.

anyway fast forward the last 2 days we have been sat on sunbeds and there is a family of 3 kids with water guns just squirting them at everyone on the sunbeds. The first time I jumped out of my skin. My husband asked them to stop and other people have asked them to stop including a family with a child with autism who was getting really upset. The parents just shrug and said we are by a pool so we should expect it. Eventually the mothers of the child with autism when to get one of the staff members and they were told to pack it in.

today they were back doing the same thing. They got me twice and once in the face which really panicked me. The staff at the pool today were not bothered and would not tell them to stop so I spend the afternoon sitting away from the pool. I had been there about 10 minutes with my eyes shut before I feel this cold water on my face and one of the little buggers and stood there spraying right in my face. Well I feel off the chair and have injured my shoulder. My husband marched up to the staff and demanded the manager of the hotel. The lifeguard then actually asked the family to stop.

Then coming back from evening meal tonight and we were suddenly all covered with water and one of the little buggers was stood outside his chalet squirting people going past but this time he has obviously been bought the biggest super soaker in the shop. The boy laughed and shouted “dad it’s the lady who screams when she is squirted” (I didn’t really scream just let out a yelp a few times). The dad burst out laughing. I had to hold DH back from confronting him. (The dad is built like a brick shit house and looks the type that would punch someone just for fun)

anyway we when to reception and reported them but the staff don’t seem bothered. I kind of feel these boys will be out to get me tomorrow as they obviously find my reaction funny. the parents don’t give a toss

we have 3 days left and I don’t want to be looking over my shoulder all the time. What can I do or am I being unreasonable about all this

OP posts:
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50lbstolose · 06/06/2026 22:04

@Blueeyedstork i hope you got to enjoy the rest of your holidays

LittleRedButton · 05/06/2026 06:02

Do we always have to caveat emotional responses to situations with a ND diagnosis?

No one wants a little brat squirting them with a water gun.

Why don't you take the gun and squirt the parents 😝

Beenwhereyouareagain · 05/06/2026 06:00

Crikeyitishot · 05/06/2026 05:47

OMG! Autocorrect 😳. I'm never commenting on someone who commented on another's mistake ever again.

@Crikeyitishot

I imagine Pedant's Corner would blacklist all of us! This chain of autocorrected comments made my week....😂 Thank you!

Crikeyitishot · 05/06/2026 05:47

Beenwhereyouareagain · 29/05/2026 13:03

@Blueeyedstork
@SheSaidHummingbird

Oops! 🙄

It's a chain reaction of autocorrect mishaps. I thought "Why would you comment on someone else's faux pas without making sure your own was correct!

😂😂😂.

@Crikeyitishot It must be contagious. Take a peek at yours. 😂😂

Edited

OMG! Autocorrect 😳. I'm never commenting on someone who commented on another's mistake ever again.

Harhar · 02/06/2026 08:21

Everybodysinthehousetonight · 02/06/2026 06:15

🤣🤣🤣🤣
I haven't RTFT but this comment is gold🤣🤣.

Sorry OP, that sounds total shit. Scumbag family.

I imagine this haunting @SheSaidHummingbird for years … the time I tried to be a smart arse and it backfired.

Everybodysinthehousetonight · 02/06/2026 06:15

SheSaidHummingbird · 29/05/2026 01:24

Do you really sat 'when' instead of 'went'?

🤣🤣🤣🤣
I haven't RTFT but this comment is gold🤣🤣.

Sorry OP, that sounds total shit. Scumbag family.

SheSaidHummingbird · 31/05/2026 21:46

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Care to expand on my consistently cruel, vicious and abnormal posting history?

Thingcanonlygetbetter · 31/05/2026 15:12

Rotten wee fuckers, and no wonder with shit parents like that. I would be fuming

Easterchicken · 31/05/2026 13:25

Are you with a travel company? If so I'd tell the reps

Id also accedentally kick the fucker in the pool and squirt the entire family with condiments

Also put an official complaint in there as I don't think anywhere takes up a complaint after the fact

They sound horrific and I bet the mum has "full time yummy mummy" as her job on facebook

Booboobagins · 31/05/2026 09:38

TinyRebel · 29/05/2026 00:25

Take their toy and break it.

It's what I'd do but parents who sound like AHs would be up in arms!

I loathe people like this - bullies, no respect - the resort needs to deal with it.

Get the manager to threaten to throw them out. Once and for all this needs to stop.

Bonsaibaby · 31/05/2026 09:04

I was on a residential called pgl in the 80s and was being helped out of a Canadian canoe I thought and was then dunked by the leader ‘helping’ me out. I was 9. Who are these dicks?
anyway fortunately I didn’t develop a phobia of cold water and love swimming in the sea but I HATE being squirted by water pistols or splashed it just pisses me off. In fact there was a story years ago about supersoakers and the mum asking if it was ok for her to buy them for an end of term and everyone said no but she couldn’t accept it!

Coconutter24 · 31/05/2026 08:40

Bing89 · 31/05/2026 08:35

I agree it's not just kids having fun it's antisocial of the parents to let them just squirt all the holiday makers around the pool and not just friends and each other, it dosnt sound like it was accidental, as a parent you would tell your kids to behave but maybe just leave them to it... Sounds like they will have the most delightful up bringing

The fact that the parents are letting the children shoot the water guns at people passing by the apartment on an evening fully clothed, tells us all we need to know about the parenting style

Bing89 · 31/05/2026 08:38

It wouldn't bother me if they squirted adults but when she said about an autistic child it got my back up that's bullying. If you have told them to stop and they haven't then just find some where else to hang out for the holiday.

Bing89 · 31/05/2026 08:35

Coconutter24 · 31/05/2026 07:58

OP isn’t complaining about being by the pool or even expecting kids playing nearby not to splash. She is expecting not to have to put up with the antisocial behaviour

I agree it's not just kids having fun it's antisocial of the parents to let them just squirt all the holiday makers around the pool and not just friends and each other, it dosnt sound like it was accidental, as a parent you would tell your kids to behave but maybe just leave them to it... Sounds like they will have the most delightful up bringing

Bing89 · 31/05/2026 08:32

You all need to go buy your son a water gun and let him squirt their parents 😂😂 you need to get petty not angry

Coconutter24 · 31/05/2026 07:58

MaggieBsBoat · 29/05/2026 05:59

I have sympathy but at the same time booking the sort of holiday where you’ll be right by your phobia daily and then to complain about it seems a tad odd.

Complain to the hotel and tell the parents that you’ll be reporting to the police if they don’t control their kids.

OP isn’t complaining about being by the pool or even expecting kids playing nearby not to splash. She is expecting not to have to put up with the antisocial behaviour

Brucebogtrotter257 · 31/05/2026 07:05

sashh · 29/05/2026 04:31

Is it a package holiday? If so contact the rep or the company, with luck the family have booked the same holiday, the company have a few options, including ( but very rarely) banning them from future holidays.

You know which chalet they are in, could you buy something noisy like a musical instrument and practice it?

I'd be tempted to put on my most formal clothes, get a clipboard and go around making notes.

If anyone asks any questions, just tell them you can't discuss it, ask which member of staff was on duty as the life guard. Ask about their training. Ask for their policy on dealing with complaints. Ask to see their fire emergency policy. Ask to see their health and safety policy.

Do not answer any questions, just make notes.

You want to rattle them.

Wandering around in formal attire making notes asking to see policies will just make the staff think "what odd behaviour " and not rattle them. I mean the squirring with water guns has to stop but Wandering about inbtgr party outfit with a clip board is no going to help 😀

Imisssleep88 · 31/05/2026 06:39

You are not being unreasonable, they are being sh*ts and the whole family sound awful, it's such a shame one family can ruin your enjoyment of a holiday. Definitely demand to speak to the highest management possible, their water gun use should be limited to only spraying each other.

Bigboldfont · 31/05/2026 02:46

get a massive supersoaker and get your children to soak the parents as they are all dressed up and going out eg to dinner. And then when they are away from the villa, soak everything you can by squirting in their window etc

SwatTheTwit · 31/05/2026 01:57

I’m surprised they made it that far without someone chucking the bloody water guns away.

Dencar · 31/05/2026 01:41

FunnyHazelPeer · 29/05/2026 05:42

Reporting to police is a bit dramatic. It’s a bit of water, do you get triggered this much by rain?

Read the OP!

Lordemily50 · 31/05/2026 00:32

Personally, I’d buy the biggest F Off water gun you can find and return the favour, only use iced water from the bar. Seriously, they won’t bother you after that. Just say “If you can’t beat them, join them!” 😉 P.S. Similar happened to me when I was a kid. Terrified of water and being out of my depth as a result. Then one day I was so fed up of missing out I just got in. I visually marked a line of the pool where I wouldn’t go further and haven’t looked back since. It’s not completely gone but I’ve learned how to swim properly and about water safety x

Temporaryname158 · 31/05/2026 00:27

Inform the manager you will be taking written statements from guests and your lawyer will be in touch regarding your ‘accident’ caused by other guests, and tell him you will be suing them for damages plus distress and the full cost of the holiday. I am sure he will start to take it seriously.

ThatLemonBee · 30/05/2026 23:17

Demand to diesel with the manager , make sure you tell them your review will be based on this being solved and if it carries on demand your money back and walk away .

HelenaWilson · 30/05/2026 22:06

take comfort in the fact that their neighbours are probably having a break from these so called parents and their spawn

Neighbours and teachers.

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