Upset by DH’s ‘misjudgment’ aka lack of common sense

[Tothink]

We went to a waterpark today for the first time with our two sons (aged 2&4).

DS1 (eldest) is much more water confident than DS2 and doesn’t mind going down the slides, getting hair/eyes wet etc. DS2 a lot more apprehensive and even looks too small for the slides.

At one point DS1 wanted to go down the biggest slide (it was a fully closed tunnel slide which went from the top of the waterpark down to the bottom. It had various bends and turns. DS1 went down it fine. DH took him up there (quite a way up), he carried DS2 with him but I assumed he would walk back down the steps to the bottom once DS1 had entered the slide. But no… I saw him lower DS2 into the slide and I went slightly ballistic from the bottom, trying to shout up and signal to him ‘NO!’. He obviously did it any way. He put DS2 in the tunnel and off he went.

I waited right at the bottom for DS2 to appear. I waited. I waited. I started to fucking panic like there is no tomorrow and then I hear him screaming ‘mama, mama’. And truly in that moment my whole body went to absolute jelly. He is a very small 2 year old and was clearly terrified, stuck alone in this fully closed long ass tunnel.

To clarify, there’s no water going through the tunnel obviously, I mean it’s wet in there due to wet swimwear going through it but no stream of water. However, it’s the mere fact that I couldn’t see him, but I could hear him screaming for me.

Then he stopped screaming for me and I panicked even more. Lifeguards all came over but didn’t actually know what to suggest because DS2 had obviously gotten stuck somewhere in the tunnel and seeing as he is only 2, he didn’t really know to keep sliding himself down. Nobody could slide down it and get him because apparently it was too risky (if they went down too fast they could bang into him).

He eventually came out, shaking like an absolute leaf. It honestly felt like ages. The screaming made it worse but then the silent parts were even worse than that.

Furious at DH and feeling so shaken by it.

I agree as above. I recently returned from a beach holiday where a man took a one year old in a sit in baby swim ring into the sea(lots of waves) and not only didn't hold him but turned his back. Next news mum screaming running into sea baby upside-dow, life guard on scene. Thank God baby was fine but WTF was Dad thinking. What was your husband thinking?

Again. Let's all say it together.

THERE WAS NO WATER IN THE SLIDE.

also said child is not in any way a baby.

Why do people keep coming on with clearly dangerous scenarios which are nothing like this one?!

That is not in the tiniest way comparable.

Still lacking judgement and common sense. Could have been a worse outcome child obviously traumatised.

So you don't like my comparison 🤔 Why do ppl come on here and be aggressive?

Sounds like you panicked a bit and DH did something with good intentions but clearly went awry. If he had slidden down fine and came out unharmed you wouldn't even have thought twice and the kid would have been screaming to do it again. No one got hurt, silly - maybe, dangerous - probably not, you over reacting (justifiably) - probably somewhat. Don't dwell on it.

No it isn’t - this was a water slide that was height and one assumes age appropriate ish (no mention he is particularly tall for his age) where there were staff members and lifeguards.

going out to sea in that situation is completely stupid and reckless

I agree op 2 yo is far too young to go on a big water slide alone. I too would feel so bad for DS and be livid with DH

I'm not sure why it is being referred to as a water slide when it has no water in it??

We only know it was the biggest waterslide there which without context doesn’t say a lot. There are some massive slides at some water parks that wouldn’t be even be suitable for a 10 year old

if he met the height restriction it was presumably deemed safe and not that big at all

@Tothink I have had a tall child one who at times has gone on rides he was physically but not emotionally ready for - we learn and move on. Mistakes get made it’s life and it’s parenting and it is definitely part and parcel of parenting life. What is important now is to recognise that just because he is tall enough doesn’t mean he is ready

Can you please tell us which park it was because I would like to avoid a water park that has slides without water on them.

Totally agree

But thats not what happened.

This is what’s confusing me because there’s usually a small stream of water to make the slide slippy?

I'm still really hoping the OP will come back with more details of the slide.

Just checking at the end of my day out if OP has returned with details of this enormous water slide that was the full height of the water park yet had no water and height restrictions allowing a small 2 year old down it…

I was not even a year older when I survived a huge life changing event that I was the only (lucky one) to walk away from. I waited alone (well I could see people outside but no one with me) among bodies for police and fire to get there and rescue me.

It change my life projectory and thus is garanteed to have changed me as a person on some level but it hasn't 'traumatized me for life'. In fact as a child very much the opposite.

Adults like to put THEIR feelings on me (god I got sick of being called 'Brave', I didn't exactly have a choice ffs) but as a child I didn't have that range of emotions yet to even comprehend the deeper concepts of terror and grief etc...

So I'm pretty sure this 2 year old will get over 2 minute 'alone' (meters from their parents) on a slightly dark kiddy slide at a childrens play area.

I nearly drowned age 5 ... it has traumatised me for life. I still have nightmares now.

This! It sounds very dangerous if it's a long tunnel slide with no water stream - easy to get stuck and also I imagine very uncomfortable to slide down.

SAS - get the dad waterboarded until he apologises for his crime

How would you slide down it in a wet swimming costume if there was no water stream?

I'm wincing just thinking of that epic arse rub.

Be sitting in a massive pot of Sudocrem for a week after.

It was called the Jackanory Water Park, located at

Porky Pie Crescent
FauxdramaVille
Whoppershire
BIG LIAR
United Kingdom

Thank God baby was fine but WTF was Dad thinking. What was your husband thinking?

Well, what were either of them thinking, entertaining a huge waterslide, that’s a tube, that has no water running down it, that’s dry, where basically every single person would likely get stuck going down in it and have to bum crawl down? It’s super strange such a slide would even exist in a waterpark, let alone either OP or her DH would entertain using it, before even getting to the debacle described.

5 is over double the age and development of 2.

Most 2 year old can't even form cohesive long term memories of events, that doesn't really start to form until around 3+.

Being on a slide for a few minuet will almost certainly not be traumatic enough to be encoded into long term memory and change this kids life even if the kid is closer to 3. He will not remember this.

I'm very sad the OP hasn't come back. So I'm drawing my own conclusions about the slide.