Incident in pool left me a bit perplexed/ worried

[AlphaBeta2012]

Was swimming today with my 22mth old son. He is pretty unconfident in the water so we have been working on him slowly building up his confidence and having fun in the pool. we were having fun in the baby pool bit which has a small whirlpool area. Going round this my son was on my back and this 8/9 year old boy came by kicking frantically, he came past us and caught my son a little bit, then with another big kick which i managed to block with my arm as it nearly hit my son in the head. The space was narrow and I very nicely said to him, that he was swimming very well but could he be a bit careful kicking as there was lots of babies in the pool. He smiled and said sorry he was just learning to swim properly. Then his father (I assume) came up behind us and literally yelled at this child 'why have you stopped swimming - I told you to do a whole lap'. Off poor kid then leapt, kicking fractically in the way children learning to swim to do and caught me really hard in the stomach - I'm 17 weeks pregnant so was not impressed (though on't blame kid). I said, still politely, to the father/ uncle/ whoever he was. 'Excuse me, would it be sensible to teach him to swim in the main pool (there is a lot of shallow there), he has just accidently kicked my son and now just kicked me in the stomach and I'm pregnant, I know he didn't mean to but there is a lot more room in there (gesturing to main pool)' - I hadn't raised my voice or anything, and wasn't angry at that point. This man then told me - 'why don't you just go and f* yourself you stuck up cow' and went off. I was really shocked and we left the pool.
Was I BU, I really don't think I was, especailly to have that language infront of my toddler! i think i am more worried about this mans attitude towards the child and me saying that to him would make him go off more at the child instead!

Jamie... You could be right; in hindsight it's perhaps ill-advised, another parent might not have reacted in that way at all, been far more reasonable. Child had already apologised too... what was the purpose of speaking with the parent?

Regarding seeking a 'higher authority', OP suggested that herself. Quite honestly, because some people seem very flakey and unpredictable, it's probably the better way of dealing with issues as even bullies can be a little in awe of 'officialdom'. That's what I meant.

Outraged did re-state her views, yes, I'm not referring to the posters who responded back with there's, just the 'me-too's' who pop up just to jump on a retort without posting anything else.

Fair enough lying but boy apologised then kicked me hard in stomach obeying shout from adult! I feel it is a sad world if we can't speak reasonably to other adults if a problem occurs.

Agree with you, Alpha but it can be a dangerous world too when people with no in-built parameters of behaviour are even just looked at the wrong way. I would have apologised to you and asked if you were ok had it been my son... but then I wouldn't have been terrifying him into swimming off and kicking you again either.

I know what it's like to dwell on things, they play over and over in your head when they're unreasolved but try not to let this bother you too much. You could still complain if you wanted to, perhaps the sports centre can make it clearer regarding use of the pools in future?

Thanks, and I do see what you're saying. I also know I'm over playing it back in my head due to 3 losses before this pregnancy and anxieties naturally are running high.

Thanks, and I do see what you're saying. I also know I'm over playing it back in my head due to 3 losses before this pregnancy and anxieties naturally are running high.

Lying, she did state that it was the 'baby pool bit'. And that there were lots of babies in the pool.

No, Artex, my remark wasn't to you. I know that Outraged can look after herself too.

Sleds... I missed that. I know that pool set-ups can be very different. Our sports centre has just one pool that's cordoned off for various things and the shallow end is generally where non-swimmers are.

Alpha... I'd be just as anxious as you. I'm glad that you've been checked out and reassured that all is well. You'll probably never meet this man again, but if you do, decide in advance what you'd do. I'd steer clear, he sounds horrible and completely unreasonable.

I think the best thing to do for you and your baby is
go a bit of the pool where is less people

go to pool in day time when the older kids are in school
go early in morning when there are less people are about

or put up with the fact there other people in pool and look out for all the other kids

No worries Lying, you're right, pools are all different and it isn't always clear who's supposed to go where.

It is a baby pool - surely the clue is in the name? It is not for older children learning to swim - there's another pool for that.

The man was an utter knob and very rude.

I feel very sorry for that poor boy :(

I'm sorry you were shaken by it - when you are pregnant and have had miscarriages it must be very scary beng kicked like that, even though a kick like that is very very unlikely to do any harm.

I don't know what I would have done in your situation, but in mine I'd have told him to fuck off and stop bullying the kid as well!! Wanker.

Try not to keep going over it in your head, you are all OK and worrying about it wont change that little boy's life. More's the pity.

thanks, feeling much better this morning, bruising has come out fully and is more concentrated on hip so hopefully fine with baby and as you say unlikely to have caused any harm! This is when I am thankful I was about 1/2 stone overweight at the start - baby got lots of extra padding there!

Why did she say something ill advised and unnecessary what on earth are you talking about?! She wasnt rude. They were in the wrong pool and were upsetting (even physically hurting) OP and probably others. Are we all to sit and cower now for fear of these feral people? OP he made himself look a real prat and he should be ashamed (he knows it too really).

OP was utterly reasonable if not restrained. Our pool is set up exactly as yours is and my careful 6 year old DD is too big for it now and swims in the big pool. That man sounds really dreadful who speaks to people like that in a place full of children? I would definitely have said something in your situation.