To be irritated with response from swimming pool

[Ozziegirly]

We have swimming classes for 2yo DS. Yesterday morning he woke with a temperature and a chesty cough.

He still has it today. I emailed the pool to inform them that he couldn't attend swimming and asked if he could attend a make up class at some point next week.

They said that they can't offer a make up as I didn't give them 48 hours notice, and could only have one if I get a Drs certificate.

To get a Drs cert I have to take up the Drs valuable time with a totally mild illness that in no way requires medical attention, and also pay $20 for the privilege.

I didn't give them 48 hours' notice as he wasn't ill 48 hours ago.

Can anyone see a way around this?

He's 2. It's 1 class.

OP, my advice is don't get involved with music lessons, or anything else that involves private lessons, and certainly don't think of educating privately.

If your DS is sick, you may lose your money.

That's the way it is. It may well be a PITA, but get over it!

for goodness sakes.. he is 2... just suck up the lost lesson, it wont make any difference to his olympic training

Sorry but yabu. It's just tough if he's ill. The pool are not obliged to rearrange claases for every two year old with a bug for goodness sake.

Suck it up Buttercup. Sorry.

Heh heh, I kinda love threads like this.

Its when you see into the mindset of someone else and what you see there is something that you have never even considered yourself. Its like a whole new world of strangeness.

I agree minty.
OP YABVU
Pretty standard that you pay for the course, regardless of if you turn up or not. I've never heard of an expectation of a swimming baths should put people who miss a lessson into another one, even if they were of an age where they were developmentally ready to listen to, and process instructions from a teacher in how to learn to swim. It would be an organisational nightmare, as well as disruptive for the classes absentees were put into, and of no benefit to the child.
I would like to hope that if a child broke a limb or was rushed into hospital and had to miss 8 weeks of lessons, you could come to some agreement about a credit for the next term, but seriously ? 1 lesson ?
If he's been poorly, then I can't see that having 2 swimming lessons in the following week would necessarily be a good thing, but if you think they are, then take him yourself to make up the time.
But seriously - unless it's a typo, you said he was 2!

What if he's not well enough to go to either the make up lesson (were they to schedule one for you) or next's week's normal weekly lesson? Would you expect two make up classes, thereby having 3 in one week? Where the hell woud it end?
I don't imagine a single class can cost more than a fiver, just let it go.

Yes, YABU, I've never heard of 'make up sessions' in situations like this. It's a shame, but if you miss it you miss it - wouldn't occur to me to look for recompense.

Maybe they should have told you to miss tge next one so no- one else catches his cold......

Ok, brace yourself op because I don't think that yabvu. Maybe a little bit, but I can see your point.

There are slots available because if you had a doctor's note you could have one. So yes, I see how it's a bit annoying that your son misses his lesson.

HOWEVER, this rule is in place because otherwise people would take the piss all the time. So sadly, I see the pool's point of view too.

I'd call my doctor and explain. Your gp may be happy to write a note without seeing your ds if you explain.

Oh, and I know it's just a swim lesson. It's not a big deal. But it is annoying when your child misses a class that he/she loves through illness - and if there's the chance of a make-up class then that's great!

I think that the 48hr/doctor's note thing is there so that they can indeed show some flexibility in the face of a proper illness, but that they are unwilling to enter into the logistical nightmare that would ensue from offering alternative sessions to children with coughs/colds and other minor ailments.

I'm amazed they even offered you the chance of a make up class (I'm guessing this isn't an official thing, just the receptionist was flustered by you asking). Even if you proved your child was ill, most other classes are probably full/inconvenient/taught by someone else who won't know your child so not as "useful".

At our swimming pool they refund the cost of lessons if you can prove you have missed them due to serious illness. DS missed 7 lessons due to a broken arm - we got our money back. Don't think anyone would bother for the odd lesson missed due to a bit of a cold.

My DD has missed loads of swimming lessons due to burst ear drums, colds etc over the years. It would never have occurred to me to ask the swimming pool if they could fit her into another slot. We just missed that class and turned up for the next one when she was better. That's the way it goes. YADBU.

Our DC's swimming teacher cancelled a lesson for 'reasons beyond her control' and refused to offer an alternative lesson.

Now that's unreasonable.

If your DS misses because of illness I think that is just hard luck.

your dc IBU

tell him not under any circumstance to get ill again without 48 hours notice - it is just not on.

I feel your pain

right good telling off that will sort the blighter out