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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Bloody loud kids in the communal pool all day, everyday.

470 replies

DavidBowiesNumber1 · 18/07/2018 14:53

We've recently moved into a new house on a small development - 20 houses, at present only 10 sold, of those 10 only 5 of us are permanent residents.
Not in the UK.
Up until about 3 weeks ago everything was peaceful, harmonious, pretty idyllic. Then the "holiday homers" arrived.
Now, out of the 5 nonresident households, 3 have lots of children ranging in ages of about 1 to 13 years old. Approx' 9 children between them but every day there are friends arriving to spend the day (and sometime night) at the pool.
Now I'm all for kids enjoying themselves and its lovely to see them doing something other than sitting indoors in front of a tv/tablet/phone/games console but AIBU in thinking that the parents (who are rarely at the pool) should A) be keeping an eye on them and B) be telling them to hush down a bit?
All we can hear from morning 'til night (up to 12.15am this morning) is the children shouting, screaming, jumping in the pool etc.
It's incredibly hot here (40c+ in the day, never dips below 32c at night) so all doors and windows are open therefore the noise carries everywhere.
If we want to use the pool we have to dodge bombing children/passing li-los/random balls and floats along with said 'DC'.
We would just like to enjoy our downtime and relax. Is that too much to ask?

OP posts:
CharmingHorses · 20/07/2018 05:01

I was on holiday recently at a lovely quiet resort that welcomed children. The pool was used by families with children and couples of all ages without children completely harmoniously. All different nationalities. The parents actually supervised their children without being asked to - it seemed to come naturally to them. This didn't amount to following them around shouting at them, it meant that they were involved and joined in. There was noise, of course their was. Lots of laughter. It wasn't unchecked shrieking and screaming, dive bombing and it wasn't annoying to everyone else.

It is a good lesson in life to learn how to occupy your environment and enjoy yourself without pissing everyone else off. I can't see how can't understand this.

MirriVan · 20/07/2018 05:14

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mathanxiety · 20/07/2018 05:36

That sounds quite lovely, CharmingHorses. It wasn't Lake Wobegon by any chance? It's all clearly above average.

What a pity there seem so many here who want children in a pool, on holiday, to pander to adult neurosis.

The comment on the mosquito alarm makes me wonder if some here think of children as part of the human race.

Purplealienpuke · 20/07/2018 06:54

I don't live abroad somewhere nice with a pool & I hear kids shouting all day! It's a default setting I think 🤔

LoveInTokyo · 20/07/2018 08:10

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Br1256 · 20/07/2018 08:53

Concerned with safety situation ....no adult supervision no life guard?...this might be a better approach with residents committee than criticising the children.

The midnight dip sounds like families had all been out for an evening and decided to cool off.

If there is a time limit on the pool is there anyway to close it off, fencing etc that could be locked.

Of course these measures ...enclosed access, lifeguard someone to lock up ....would add to any maintainence charges. Alternatively perhaps you could go away during the summer months and let out your house

woodhill · 20/07/2018 10:27

If you are trying to sleep at night, why would you want anyone screaming and shouting, it's lack of consideration like someone having a loud party and neighbours complaining.

The pool shuts at 1000 and that is for a reason. It's a residential complex and the holiday makers should respect the rules. I would be complaining too if I lived there permanently.

Perhaps OP should go and wake up the noisy families at an early hour and see how they like it?

stayathomer · 20/07/2018 10:34

Love the name OP by the way! I'm afraid it's something you could have/should have foreseen (not helpful I know!), and it's a pity, but if there's a collective as opposed to just one family there's not a lot you can do. Do they stay long term or a week or so at a time?Maybe in August you'll get more peace?

WendyCope · 20/07/2018 11:04

I am not sure what 'lap swimmers' have to do with the price of fish.
This thread is not about lap swimmers and how apparently deathly dangerous these people are.

I have never seen such utter tosh and point missing on MN in 13 years Hmm

LoveInTokyo · 20/07/2018 11:43

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WendyCope · 20/07/2018 11:54

Agreed Tokyo and also totally derailed the thread

CharmingHorses · 20/07/2018 12:24

Seriously though some lap swimmers were spotted off the coast of Cornwall this week so take care out there this weekend folks

WendyCope · 20/07/2018 12:30

Grin Hilarious!

PrivatePike · 20/07/2018 12:44

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DavidBowiesNumber1 · 20/07/2018 15:01

Math I think you're on the wrong thread love Grin

OP posts:
Blondeshavemorefun · 20/07/2018 15:35

How can parents let their children play by water unsupervised

And yes if pool is shut 9/8 for cleaning then no one should be in it

And polite to be quiet after 11pm imo

madeyemoodysmum · 20/07/2018 17:25

Blonde. Yes agree I let mi w go to oool now 10&12 but they are life guarded pools.
Offer. I will wAit in pool Coffee shop if they are with friends or if it's a family swim we all get in.

I'd never let them
Swim unsupervised with out a life guard. If we hire a villa then they only swim if an adult is there.

madeyemoodysmum · 20/07/2018 17:26

Also I believe drowning is the biggest cause of death in under 21's.

WendyCope · 20/07/2018 17:48

There is always the risk of 'dry drowning' hours later if you hadn't noticed your child being dunked/inhaling loads of water. Sad

mathanxiety · 21/07/2018 02:00

LoveinTokyo, au contraire, I have made it very clear that I consider it the job of adults to model consideration to children. Consideration includes being reasonable about who has the right to swim as opposed to playing ball, lounging around, diving in, turning somersaults underwater, etc.

The point about swimming - in a straight line, presumably - or lap swimming, or swimming lengths, is that it is inconsiderate and also dangerous.

I would indeed be teaching my children to be selfish and inconsiderate if I decided that swimming into crowds of people in a pool, arms rotating and legs kicking, regardless of who was in the way, was my god given right just because imo swimming takes precedence over other uses of the pool, or because I am an adult and therefore what I want to do in the pool should take precedence, and everyone else should keep put of my way. Even other adults should stay on the lookout for me and have their children move, according to many here. 'Everyone owes me my swim'. That is your attitude here.

The discussion of swimming vs. other uses of the pool is not a straw man argument. Posters on this thread are clutching their pearls at the idea that children should be able to have a carefree time in a pool. There are ingrained attitudes behind that consternation, attitudes that developed in a particular culture. They are apparently for the most part completely unexamined, just taken for granted.

Maybe the 'straw man' tack is your little way of admitting you don't have a leg to stand on here. That is certainly what I infer from your decision to have a go at my children.

LoveInTokyo · 21/07/2018 07:56

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MargotLovedTom1 · 21/07/2018 08:44

I think there's more risk of "danger and fright" when an overexcited kid cannonballs onto your head, to be quite honest. The lengthy posts about lane swimmers etc completely miss the point, and "....shrieking is doing nobody any harm no matter what time it happens," - really? Utterly ridiculous.

DavidBowiesNumber1 · 21/07/2018 10:22

Someone swimming in a pool such as the one the OP is describing is probably going to be doing a gentle breast stroke with their head above water and perfectly capable of seeing what is in front of them and stopping if necessary. They are not causing any danger to others That's exactly what I try to do, 4-5 lengths at a very gentle pace, eyes wide open, vision clear dodging anything/anyone in my path.
If there is a collision it is going to be because a kid has just dive bombed on top of them without checking whether anyone was there HUGE risk of this happening.

OP posts:
woodhill · 21/07/2018 10:36

That's how I swim too and try to avoid being splashed in the face as am wearing contacts so I can see.

agedknees · 21/07/2018 11:58

David - please reconsider air con (at least in your bedrooms). Yesterday afternoon our bedrooms where showing temp of 38 in the shade. As I said previously, we had air con fitted yesterday. Temp went to a respectful 22 and a good nights sleep was had (except the ddog decided to cuddle up next to me).

Our community has a do not change anything on the outside strategy. Everyone ignores it for air con.