Swimming pool closing on us

[Gushpanka]

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?

Not all the other parents do it and ALL the children shower.

Actually, what other parents do is use the public changing rooms which are next to the showers, saving the long corridor walk, and up and down a flight of stairs. However, we got an email telling us we must use the team changing rooms so that's what I do (I'm a rule follower hence the stress when we go over the 15 mins...)

Maybe, thinking about it, I'll just be rebellious and use the public changing rooms as that'd easily shave off a few precious minutes. I don't see how I can do both.

Only closes at 18.00 on a Sunday. Ocassionally they have other stuff going which does make life more relaxing as then there's no pressure but usually not.

Actually I don't think you're unreasonable OP, so the changing rooms aren't cleaned at the end of the day either, if they're in such a rush to leave? It's not the staffs fault as they're obviously only paid until 6:15, but if they're scheduling lessons to finish at 6, I'd expect half an hour for them to be cleaning up and allowing customers time to get showered, dried and dressed

Your 4 year old cycles home from swimming in the dark?

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

Goodness, head out of my own arse to have a quick shower after swimming. It's funny because whenever I go swimming, I see that everyone does shower after swimming. How extraordinary!

"Your 4 year old cycles home from swimming in the dark?"

No, I cycle. She's on the back.

FGS use the changing area/showers next to the pool - especially if everyone else does!

"the changing rooms aren't cleaned at the end of the day either, if they're in such a rush to leave?"

I was thinking that too! There's no cleaners in sight ever. I presume they are cleaned as they're in pretty good state but no idea when this happens.

This might help. I have very dry skin and eczema and this has been life changing. You spray it on damp skin.

Might save time and it is wonderful.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B01LN1R8CM/ref=mpssa111aa_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1547406035&sr=8-1&keywords=aveeno+spray&dpPl=1&dpID=31RO66r32-L&ref=plSrch

The location of the showers sounds utterly bizarre though, and that they’re nowhere near the changing rooms is even weirder! The designer of the pool must never have been swimming in their life. Curious as to what swimmers with disabilities do too. Such a strange setup!

YANBU!
My DC take ages getting ready. There's just no need to put customers under that amount of pressure. 15 minutes is not enough, in my opinion.

I’ve known places where locking up time is not paid.

Given that's gravely illegal, I hope not!

I can't see a pool that expects people to walk through multiple corridors to get changed before and after swimming caring too much about their customers as in itself that is unfriendly towards customers.

It's funny because whenever I go swimming, I see that everyone does shower after swimming my kids dont, they shower when they get home. Its not compulsory to shower after swimming especially not immediately.

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

if we follow that to its logical conclusion nowhere would ever be able to close. Do you expect shops not to have closing times, there'll always be shopper who needs a few more minutes, you don't expect the staff to hang on for all the faffers do you?

"FGS use the changing area/showers next to the pool - especially if everyone else does!"

But they told us not to

I actually hadn't realised this until the penny dropped that other mums weren't appearing in the changing room where I was and I saw some coming down the stairs from the publci changing room today - obviously don't know where the Dads are going!

Why not contact the centre management and ask for them to make some adjustments to enable you to be out on time, e.g. using the closer changing rooms?

Good Lord, I couldn't do it. My 9 and 11 year olds are faffers extraordinaire and would NEVER manage it in 15 minutes. Unless you live incredibly rural there are other places that run lessons, even if they are a bit further away. Find them and go there.

You should shower and moisturise her at home. The staff have been there all day and understandably want to go home. Willing to bet they also don't get paid for the extra time stood around waiting for you.

I don't want to shower her at home as it's already late for her. I like to put her straight in her PJs. Also not so good for her skin.

And presumably the (probably) NMW staff want to be able to leave when their shift ends.

The long walk to the changing room sounds far from ideal. But as everyone else seems able to get changed and out within the 15 minutes, I think you really need to put the shower off until you get home.

Have I got this right - she has a shower and her hair washed, then cycles home in her pjs? In winter?

As someone with eczema leaving chlorine on my skin and not moisturising after a shower is out of the question.
You are not being unreasonable to complain, hopefully they will up the time and pay their staff for doing so.

I wonder if the email was sent to everyone that has lessons there but wasn't actually meant to apply to classes that end after the centre closes to the public?
I can't see why you using one empty room rather than a different empty room, neither of which being in a staff only area makes the slightest difference but when the pool is busy I can see the advantage of taking some away from the main changing.

"The location of the showers sounds utterly bizarre though, and that they’re nowhere near the changing rooms is even weirder! "

This is just the team changing room which we were told to use. The public changing rooms are actually next to the showers.

I think I will be rebellious and use the public changing rooms in future (which are actually empty so not like it will hurt anyone). If they want us out in 15 mins, then I guess this what I'll have to do. That'll be my next AIBU if I'm caught!

Either shower her at home or use the public changing rooms

There's no way I could get a 4 year old showered and dressed in 15 minutes in those circumstances. Speak to the manager and find out what the hurry is.

Be sympathetic, the staff are on minimum wage and swimming pools are under pressure to keep costs down but that doesn't mean they should be rude!