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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Swimming pool closing on us

391 replies

Gushpanka · 13/01/2019 18:37

My Dd is 4 and has a swimming lesson 17.30-18.00 at our local pool. It's the last lesson of the day and public swimming ends quite a bit earlier.

They expect us out by 18.15 and staff will stand over us, hurrying us up if we go over. I find it quite stressful and, try as I might, I can't be be out within 15 minutes (unless we skip showering which I don't want to do).

First of all, lesson ends and then have to get kids out the pool. The complex is big so we have to go up a flight of stairs to the showers, along a long corridor and down two flights to the team changing room and then up a flight of stairs to the exit.

I have to shower DD and wash her hair (just a quick wash, no conditioning etc). Then down to changing room (wrapped in towel of course). Then quick moisturize (can't skip as she has dry skin but literally dry her and slather it on as quick as possible), then get her dressed. Obviously no time for hair drying so I bring a balaclava for her (we bike so I would much rather dry her hair). Then coats, boots, winter gear etc.

I never manage in 15 mins. Some of the others do but DD is the youngest in the class and, well, I guess we're just not as fast as others.

But AIBU to think 15 minutes to be out the door after a swimming lesson is too little time? I annoys me that they don't seem to leave enough time but maybe we're just too slow?

OP posts:
mummyhaschangedhername · 13/01/2019 18:47

Change the lesson time ... while I fully understand you reasons why you shower, wash hair and moisturise I do not think it's appropriate given the time constraint. From their perspective it must be very frustrating to watch someone do all of that while they are waiting and probably not being paid to lock up.

IceRebel · 13/01/2019 18:47

Sorry but 15 minutes is more than reasonable, as shown by everyone else managing it. I bet they only get paid til 6pm and those extra 15 minutes really add up. If it's every day then that's 1hr 15 minutes every week they're working for free, longer if they don't get everyone out in 15 minutes. It shouldn't be that way, but I can see why they want to rush you.

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 13/01/2019 18:48

I think 15mins is tight! However I wouldn’t faff with a proper shower...I still wouldn’t be out that quick

billybagpuss · 13/01/2019 18:48

I don't think 15 minutes is enough to get a kid comfortably sorted. We were always in a rush after club as I had to get to work, my two were quick and organised and we just about did it, no shower. As an adult, easy, but no not kids.

Its not the staffs fault they want to get home, but I think 6 is a ridiculous time to close a pool. Do they not run adult sessions later or is it in a school complex. I joined a gym with pool solely because there were no sessions late enough for me to go to after work in the local public pools.

AnotherOriginalUsername · 13/01/2019 18:48

I don't want to shower her at home as it's already late for her

The shower itself will take the same length of time. If you did it at home it'd actually be quicker without the need to walk along long corridors and up and down flights of stairs.

ladygracie · 13/01/2019 18:48

I completely disagree. With the added faff of getting your child out and getting to the changing rooms, I’d say 15 mins is not doable. But. You really can’t shower her and apply moisturiser as you just don’t have time, sorry. Could she get out 5 mins early if you are there by the pool?

Original poster
Gushpanka · 13/01/2019 18:49

I don't expect staff to stay on unpaid. I don't blame the staff. I think the pool should pay them to stay for 10 more minutes to allow us to get ready if they schedule lessons that late for this age group.

OP posts:
PattiStanger · 13/01/2019 18:50

I don't think the pool should have to structure it's procedures around your quite long post lesson routine.

If there's no way to shorten it and no other pool you'll have to put the lessons on hold for a while.

YABU to expect the pool to accomodate you IMO

Bunnybigears · 13/01/2019 18:50

You dont like it so either change what you are doing e.g. shower at home or go to lessons elsewhere. Its not rocket science.

Original poster
Gushpanka · 13/01/2019 18:51

"Faffing about with moisturizer"

Yeah. all of two minutes Hmm

OP posts:
TenForward82 · 13/01/2019 18:51

So you're walking dripping wet up a flight of stairs? Really?

IceLemonGin · 13/01/2019 18:52

Could you not have your daughter wear a swim cap so she wouldn't need hair washing afterwards?

WitsEnding · 13/01/2019 18:52

I think YANBU, it takes me 10 minutes to shower dry and dress at speed with everything close together.

It sounds a very poorly designed facility, don't swimmers get cold going to and from the pool? I would expect at least some of the staff to be paid for 30 minutes after lessons finish. Otherwise, can they move the lesson to 15 minutes earlier?

AndhowcouldIeverrefuse · 13/01/2019 18:53

YABU to expect the pool to accomodate you IMO

That's right. Why should customers expect good service, politeness and common sense? Grin

Lilmisskittykat · 13/01/2019 18:53

You say 'I think the pool should pay them to stay for 10 more minutes to allow us to get ready'

But also acknowledged that it is only you that cannot get your child ready in 15 minutes. This is really quite entitled...

Did you think maybe the staff have family they would like to get home to? And like everyone is saying won't get paid for lock up time.

Just change the time of your lesson or change your routine it's really that simple. Don't be that person...

ChasedByBees · 13/01/2019 18:53

I disagree with most here and think she should be allowed to use the showers and get yourself ready after the lesson. It’s part of the whole process. They clearly haven’t left enough time for all the things that take place after a lesson to happen. I would suggest that they either close the pool a little later or start the lesson a little earlier as it’s not on to be rushing customers out of the door unable to shower after a swim.

3out · 13/01/2019 18:54

Sorry, I think you’re BU. I know it’s a pain, but that’s just the joys of swimming with young children. You can’t expect staff to stay late so that you have a nicer bedtime routine. I’d ask if you can take her out of the lesson 5 minutes early, then it’s your own time you’re eating into and not theirs, but you can get the shower and moisturising complete in time.

rightreckoner · 13/01/2019 18:54

Some grumpy responses OP. Pool hours seem unreasonable. It’s pretty normal to shower and dry hair etc after a swim. I am totally not a faffer but I’d struggle with that deadline and I’m not a damp child ! I’d either talk to management or reluctantly give up on the shower routine although I think it’s a perfectly normal thing to assume you can do at the pool after a lesson.

LordPickle · 13/01/2019 18:54

This is ridiculous. People that insist on taking full showers after swimming annoy me anyways (just rinse and go home, then take a proper shower at home!) but moisturising after the shower is next level stupid, especially in your circumstances. It shows absolutely no regard for the people that work there who need to get home to their own families and don't want to wait whilst you lotion your child so you don't have to at home.

I take my 2 yr old to swim lessons once a week in the mornings and he has very dry skin but even I don't mess about doing his entire routine at the leisure centre. I rinse him off then take him home and put him in the bath then moisturise him after his bath.

You need to get your head out of your own arse and show consideration for someone other than yourself and what suits you.

mummyhaschangedhername · 13/01/2019 18:54

But say they did stay open an extra 10 minutes and you unaware of all of this happening started your child. Would you then maybe decide that she NEEDS to condition her hair because the chlorine rightly so damages it, or perhaps she needs to dry it too as like you said you cycle and the wet hair it's ideal at all given the circumstances. Then what, 25 minutes isn't enough and they need another 10 minutes and the price of lessons goes up to pay for the staff to stay long enough.

I don't disagree it's difficult. I have 4 and if all 4 were swimming it would take forever to get them ready (tow have additional needs) ... so I do understand your frustrations but I do understand theirs too.

How many of you battle against these time constraints? Perhaps you should all get together as speak to someone together and see what they say.

FlossieTeacakesFurCoat18 · 13/01/2019 18:54

I couldn't wander corridors, have an adequate shower and hair wash, get dry and leave the building in 15 minutes, let alone chivvy along a child to do that! All the people who think it's plenty of time must be superhumanly fast Hmm

Lilmisskittykat · 13/01/2019 18:54

3out .. has your solution 👍

Bunnybigears · 13/01/2019 18:54

Yeah. all of two minutes two minutes out of a 15 minute schedule in which you cant get everything done is quite a long time to be fair.

rightreckoner · 13/01/2019 18:55

Things that MN considers ridiculously entitled - having a shower at the pool Confused

Lilmisskittykat · 13/01/2019 18:56

That's not what people think is entitled 🙄