Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to take the couple from the bar's DD swimming?

118 replies

PixieXox · 06/01/2018 19:50

Just that really.

DP and I are staying in a Hilton hotel for our anniversary this weekend. We met another couple in the bar last night and got to chatting, nothing amazingly in depth. Just the odd bit of small talk when we happened to pass each other.

We were heading to the pool today and the woman approached me in the changing room with her DD and asked if I could watch her in the pool as her and her DH had arranged to go sight seeing. She said her DD was below the minimum age to take responsibility for herself and needed an adult present.

I said no flat out. I'm not comfortable with children at all and was definitely not up for babysitting someone else's especially when I didn't know them. She huffed for a bit then apologised to her daughter because she couldn't go swimming.

Tonight she has approached my DP at the bar to ask if we can take her tomorrow and claimed that I had said it would be fine. Hmm

Obviously the answer was still no. DP seems to think I'm being unreasonable though. To be fair I would question the judgment of anyone that would trust a stranger with their DC but that's just me.

OP posts:
Original poster
PixieXox · 06/01/2018 20:02

We have no children at all. I think DP felt a bit awkward to say no outright. I've said if he wants to take her he can go alone but he's rejected that lovely offer so I'll need to deal with the CF tonight Hmm Room service for the rest of the trip I think

OP posts:
ghostyslovesheets · 06/01/2018 20:05

please have a word with the hotel - it's quiet worrying behaviour by the parents

SheGotBetteDavisEyes · 06/01/2018 20:06

Complete strangers want to hand over their 8/9 year old daughter to people they've never met before to go swimming with them? Getting changed etc?

Poor child. Something isn't right, I agree.

Tistheseason17 · 06/01/2018 20:06

What makes her a super CF is that she actually took her DD to change and tried to guilt trip you to take her in. What a nasty mum that girl has. Feel sorry for the dumped DD.

TrinitySquirrel · 06/01/2018 20:07

I'd report them to hotel management to be fair.

YouTheCat · 06/01/2018 20:08

Definitely mention it to the hotel.

youarenotkiddingme · 06/01/2018 20:08

Yanbu.

You are on holiday not working as a babysitter.

You also have no idea how well this child can swim.

CoraPirbright · 06/01/2018 20:09

Absolutely Tistheseason. Plus then she tried to pull a fast one by lying to the OP’s dh that it had all been agreed!

converseandjeans · 06/01/2018 20:09

That is a really odd request. It wouldn't be so weird if you had kids the same age who had made friends and you were going in the pool anyway - but the fact you are there without kids means it's a grown up weekend away. I feel sorry for the child if she has her parents asking strangers to mind their DD so they can go sightseeing. There is no way my DD would even agree to it - and no I wouldn't dream of asking!

Original poster
PixieXox · 06/01/2018 20:10

Yeah we'll definitely mention it to the hotel. We're going to try and avoid them because it's definitely strange and uncomfortable. We're not even friendly so not sure what's given them the impression that it would be okay Confused

OP posts:
Amber0685 · 06/01/2018 20:10

The hotel probably has babysitters direct her there, not sure if they would take swimming though. Massive cf I hope she doesn't ruin your stay. I feel sorry for the child too, who does that?

londonrach · 06/01/2018 20:11

Agree report to hotel. If at home its almost ss report. Leaving your dd with strangers all day. You expected to buy food, drinks...

Soubriquet · 06/01/2018 20:11

That is terrible

Even if I was desperate for some alone time, I still wouldn't trust random strangers to watch my child swimming whilst I buggered out!!

What on earth goes through some people's heads?!

SheGotBetteDavisEyes · 06/01/2018 20:11

Forget the swimming bit. They want to hand over their daughter to complete strangers and put her in a potentially terribly vulnerable position?

What if they ask someone else? What if that person isn't to be trusted at all?

CoraPirbright · 06/01/2018 20:11

If she tries it on again, I would reply “does the fact that I am here without any children not give you the hint that I am not on holiday to be a child-minder??” Be as rude as you like to this CF - skin like a rhino and its not like you’ll ever see them again after this holiday...

Namesarehard · 06/01/2018 20:12

Fucking hell. Wtf is wrong with them?!😮

Serin · 06/01/2018 20:13

We had something similar on holiday in France. The people in the holiday let next door went out for the day and told their DC to tag along with us and play with our DC. They were 2 boys aged about 12 and 10. Parents had not even left them any food.

The DC did not even have mobile phones to contact them in an emergency. DH is a teacher and went mad at the parents when they returned, threatened to report them to the authorities and it is still a regret that we didn't.

greendale17 · 06/01/2018 20:13

No, no, no

No way would I take responsibility for a child that I don’t even know

Talkingfrog · 06/01/2018 20:13

I thought you were going to say the mother wanted the dd you and your dd in the pool while she sat at the side, which may have suit both of you, but mother still there and responsible.
I haven't taken friends children swimming without their mum at also being in the pool, let alone look after a strangers child.

It does sound strange, and sad for the little girl as it seems to be that they don't want her with them.
In your situation I would have refused, and definitely would not have let dh do it.

eggsandwich · 06/01/2018 20:14

I’d be a bit shocked that she would ask someone she hardly knows to look after her child while she was not even on the premises.

I mean if she was popping to the loo and asked if you could keep an eye on her then fine, but to go off site seeing, I’d definitely would of said to her are you really comfortable leaving your child with someone you hardly know.

Appuskidu · 06/01/2018 20:14

Yanbu-what a cheeky pair!

Odd that your DH can’t see it though!

Xihha · 06/01/2018 20:16

YANBU, especially as its whilst they go sight seeing so they wouldn't even be near by if something were to happen and are probably planning on being quite a while!

thegoodnamesarealltaken · 06/01/2018 20:16

Yanbu. Next time you see her just say 'Oh btw I checked with the front desk and they have loads of good babysitters they can recommend, hope that helps.'

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 06/01/2018 20:17

And the CF of the century goes to..... Suzie had to call her something.
Also who the Fuck would leave their child with strangers. This is no slur on you op but you could be anyone
What are these people thinking.

MrsMoastyToasty · 06/01/2018 20:17

They take the their child to a hotel. Then THEY should parent THEIR child. End of.