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?

My DD used to have 5 mins after her swimming lesson and we always managed it (although showered at home)

I'm shocked that a wee takes 2 minutes but a shower 3 minutes !! 😂

reallyanotherone

We're not in the UK and the showers and changing rooms are sufficient and perfectly clean and fine (other than location of team changing rooms).

In fact, there is a very strict requirement to shower BEFORE swimming without swimming costume on as well. No one showers with their costumes on. You can't just strip off poolside and go into the pool. If you come in to the pool with dry hair, lifeguards will send you to shower!

Just times a wee and hand wash ...Incase I was being unreasonable.... 37.40 seconds!!! Didn't dry them though ...a d I've had a can of coke ...so big wee!!!

It sounds like your first response is to complain, rather than taking one of a number of sensible steps to reduce how long you take to get ready. Like not showering, not moisturising or using the public changing rooms.

YADNBU.

There’s no way I could get a 4yo showered, dry and dressed in 15 minutes.

Why should the child not have her full pool time - that’s bought and paid for.

Why shouldn’t she have a shower? That’s just normal post-swim?

The 2 things that are crap here is the route march to the changing room far far away, and the centre staff not being paid.

Solution:
Change in the closer room
Ask for refund on fees if centre insist on 15 minutes and out. Point out they are treating their Staff and customers like shit.

I wonder if the staff weren't there tapping their watches at 6:15 how long it would take for people to get out? A nice long shower with full body wash, shampoo and condition, moisturise, hair dry and style, chat with other families, maybe a sit down for some re-hydration and energy bars.

I could see staff having to hang around for another 40+ minutes while customers have a stress free spa experience. Something tells me if you give an inch and they'll take a mile.

"I'm shocked that a wee takes 2 minutes but a shower 3 minutes !! 😂"

One I have control over, the other I don't...

I could see staff having to hang around for another 40+ minutes while customers have a stress free spa experience

Have you been in a swimming pool changing room recently? They're cold,they're wet, chaotic and loud(at peak times) add in 4-6 year old kids and is it really that stress free?

Cant you take a wee whilst you are showing? Kill 2 birds with one stone.

"I could see staff having to hang around for another 40+ minutes while customers have a stress free spa experience. Something tells me if you give an inch and they'll take a mile."

So why don't they just close the showers and throw us all out into the reception area as soon as the lesson ends? FFS. Some of the answers here

I suppose there are three possible solutions to this-

1. Just let the pool workers stay there unpaid until the OP is finished. After all, they are just "workers". I do not suggest that the OP, or anyone else, would find this acceptable. I just include it for completeness.
2. Pay the pool attendants overtime while people like the OP finish. Fine....except this might not be economically sensible-and the attendants might not want to do this. Many of them have homes and children to go to.
3. Finish the last session early, to allow people like the OP to do all that they feel they need to do, before the pool closes. Other customers at the pool, who can do what they need to do in a shorter time might feel disappointed. But...hey...the OP is more important than them!

"Cant you take a wee whilst you are showing? Kill 2 birds with one stone."

I certainly could. But considering DD announced this just as we got out of shower and in towel, it would have been a bit weird to have gone back to shower to pee.

I used to get a 5&4 yo out of the pool and into PJs in minutes. They showered at home while I made toast for them. You need to get organised and stop faffing about OP.

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

Actually for some questioning the set up, we had to do this at a Virgin Gym... seemed a complete faff... up the stairs, through the gym, into the change - off round the corner to the family change, past the showers then down 2 flights of stairs to the pool - all overlooked by those working out in the gym on stairmasters at windows.

Might as well have just got me cossie on on the bus and given everybody a good gawp.

The swimming teacher could allow anyone who needs extra time in the changing room to leave 10 minutes early. Thus people who can get changed within the allotted time aren't disadvantaged.

If the pool schedules (and takes full payment) for a lesson at the end of the day, they should ensure that there is sufficent time to allow for a quick shower and to get small children dressed and ready to go out in the winter air

15 minutes is plenty. Really. I can be in and out in 5 minutes.

The pool is not run for your benefit or indeed the benefit of its staff.

It sounds like a bit of a nightmare OP. I wouldn’t even try with the showering and moisturising tbh. Surely it would be much more relaxing for your DD to have a shower or bath at home before bed.

"The pool is not run for your benefit or indeed the benefit of its staff."

So who exactly is it run for then?

I have certainly paid enough for the lessons and was not told that I would only have 15 minutes !

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

Umm, yes? Do you think I'm lying?
Actually it's up a flight of stairs after swim and then down two flights of stairs after shower. All wet. DD wears crocs.

I don’t think 15 mins is very long in the scenario you describe op. I too would find it stressful. YANBU.

There’s some super-smug Mumsnet chicken responses on this thread.
I had 12 kids under 10 and got home before they’d even got out of the pool. They just teleported home still in their armbands, and the older ones did their homework mid-flight

I think waiting another 10-20 minuets at home for a shower is not that big of deal. Yes it is a pain but you do have the last lesson of the day (whether its through choice or not)

However I do find the assumption that kids need to have a shower immediately after swimming odd. My DD use to have a school pool, this was 10-15 years ago and not best maintained, they would often swim in the morning, get changed (no showers at changing rooms) then go home and have a shower there. Obviously the school catered for those with excema etc but the rest it did not kill them!

"However I do find the assumption that kids need to have a shower immediately after swimming odd"

Maybe it's a cultural thing? Brits don't usually shower before swimming either from what I've seen...