Lifeguard at a kids party?

[BioSuisse]

So this is more Are They Being Unreasonable...

A friend of mine invited us to her DD's birthday party on the weekend.

This friend is ridiculously wealthy and has a new house, built to her exact specifications with an outdoor olympic sized swimming pool. The pool is infinity and set into the decking (don't know if you even call it decking, it isn't wood it is freaking marble) so not surrounded by a safety gate and quite seamless.

The party was in the garden and though not specifically a pool party, friend was aware that guests might fancy a dip, seeing as the pool is freaking massive and over the weekend it was 34 degrees.

So friend hired a lifeguard. Her thoughts were that she wanted to relax and not worry about anyone falling into the pool.

Just come back from a playdate where some of the party guests were there, they were mocking friend for having a lifeguard present.

Personally i thought it was a sensible move. They thought it was over the top, another show of her wealth and another way of highlighting her freaking massive pool, which they also feel she shouldn't have built. ATBU?

Their problem. I think she did the right and sensible thing. Maybe the problem is, no matter what she does will appear showy to less wealthy friends who are t able to see past the material things.

Definitely their problem. If someone had fallen in eat they would be complaining then. At least she didn't have to worry if a pro was taking care of things.

Is she flashy about her wealth that she would have annoyed them previously?

Ridiculous thing to complain about. The pool itself is one thing, but complaining that she'll spend more to make sure her guests don't drown? Complaining because the host of the party didn't want anyone to die. I can't even imagine

I think the money's irelavant. She has a fab pool and is generous enough to share it, and make it SAFE for her friends and guests.

They are tosspots and hopefully won't get invited back again.

She was incredibly sensible. At our swimming pool, they have a minimum of two lifeguards for pool parties. And that's at a pool party, where everyone will be in the water- not at a party where everyone is distracted and a child could go in to the water unnoticed...

Legally it would be the homeowner's responsibility I think if someone died in their pool.

I guess all the people bitching didn't refuse the invitation to hang out in this palace...

I think she is a very nice person. She doesn't talk about money but obviously has a huge amount of money judging by her new home which looks looks like a Bond villans lair

Horrible bitchy cow bags. I bet not one would say that to her face. I assume u stood up for her and told them they were being unreasonable????

There has been many news reports of dc dying at pool parties.
People drinking - inflatables in the pool nobody paying attention as they are all relaxing.

Didn't it happen at Pamela Anderson's sons birthday party??

I would be very grateful if I was her friend.

Sounds like jealousy to me.

Thanks. I was right, they are just jealous. Will avoid them.

It was a very considerate thing for her to do. The parents are then freed up to scoff her delicious food and drink.

What a bunch of whiners!

She needs to win the Mumsnet Award For Sensibleness. Well done her.

captain i overheard them, i was not part of the conversation, so i didn't say anything. Kind of wishing i had butted in and said something now

Will she be my friend? She sounds generous, considerate and a marvellous host.

This is really common here in Ontario as lots of (average income folks) have backyard pools. Most people hire a couple of teenage/young adult lifeguards from the local community pool to come over for the duration of the party. It's just sensible...you don't know what every child's swimming ability is going to be like and even the most conscientious host could get distracted

they sound jealous, at the very least. Perfectly sensible of her.

Don't suppose you've got any photos of her lair house, have you?

guessing this house is not in the UK so I can't pop round!

what a good idea she had given that kids were there - peace of mind for everyone knowing that someone is always watching in case a child toddles into the pool.

takes 3 mins to drown.

you should disown those who were mocking her.

Sounds like a genius idea. Some friends of ours (parents generation) hired a lifeguard for their BBQ/pool party even though all the guests were adults to be on the safe side and because we were all absolutely trollied

Marble? Isn't it too slidey when water on it?

Stuff the lifeguard, she needs to hire paramedics for the smashed heads when everyone slips on the marble.

Arfs at "Bond villain's lair" . Does she have a coffee table that is also a fish tank?

She sounds nice. And sensible.

She sounds very sensible and considerate.

Why couldn't these people just relax and enjoy the party without having to have eyes in the back of their heads to keep an eye on their children? ......actually I know why they couldn't, they're as jealous as hell!

Sounds very sensible and I would be pleased to have her as a friend.

Sounds eminently sensible to me. And the people mocking are just jealous cows.

You're friend sounds fab - so what if she's got the money and good fortune to have a mahoosive pool? She did the right thing in hiring a lifeguard. The people mocking her sound like the suck lemons for a living.

Of course they are unreasonable, and probably jealous. So your friend is lucky enough to be able to afford luxuries and is happy to leave them open to other people to use when visiting, good for her!

Seems to me like she was being a good host- making sure people were safe and that she was free to be attentive in other ways.

If someone had been hurt/drowned in the pool and she hadnr hired a lifeguard, all fingers would be pointing at her for not taking precautions.