To opt out of water park rides?

[BemusedTraveller]

I've name changed for this as it could be outing.

We're currently on holiday in Spain with two young teenage DCs and today we have a highly anticipated and very expensive trip to a huge and spectacular water park.

The trouble is I hate them and have always suggested DH either goes alone with the DCs or I come but just sunbathe and swim instead while we're there (I'm early 50s).

DH has always insisted I get involved but this year I've put on weight (I'm still upper reaches of a size 12) and last night my DD commented that while I still look lovely in clothes, in a bikini I'm different, and made huge type gestures with her arms, to which everyone fell about laughing.

I'm therefore dreading more than normal the idea of wandering around this park and standing in queues in a bikini all day. Would I be unreasonable and selfish to go along but not go on the rides and just sunbathe and swim etc?

As others have said, your problem is your rude child and family, not your size. I'd be inclined to leave her in the hotel and go and enjoy the water park, personally.

I am also a 14 large 12 and went to a Spanish water park in August. I was conscious about being the fattest in the land but honestly? I wasn't. You won't be. No one batted an eyelid in my direction as far as I'm aware. There were pert bums and fat bums all over the place. Go and enjoy yourself.

I wore a swimming costume, not a bikini. Helped me feel a little less exposed.

Is it Siam Park? I haven't been, but it looks great.

If you really aren't into the rides then just hop on the lazy River and stay put.

You must be doing great to be in a size 12 bikini. Tell your Dd to learn some manners she's being nasty and hurtful. Go to the park, lie about and leave them to it. I only ever go on the lazy river as someone else suggested.
If in doubt. Look out at the pool and see how everyone else looks, you'll see every shape and size all in bikinis and they look fine.

Nobody will care what you look like. Apart from your ill-mannered DD that is

Thank you for all your lovely replies - glad I'm not just being selfish/lazy.

My DCs are actually fine about me coming but just sunbathing etc (it's very beautiful there), but my DH is now accepting it through gritted teeth!

I haven't mentioned that I've been on Mumsnet about it yet - will break it to him gently 😂

Honestly shocked by your DD- thjnk it could be wise to have a chat with her and explain that's not how you treat/talk about other people's bodies. Imagine if she said that to a friend or acquaintance.

I'm getting to a similar stage in life, the thought of thrill rides and black ski runs no longer fill me with excitement. On that basis, I wouldn't bother with the waterpark. However, If I did want to participate then my saggy body wouldn't stop me. I have a long-sleeved rash vest and swim shorts that make me feel a bit more comfortable. I'm not suggesting that you have to cover up, it's just my preference.

I’m ashamed to admit this.

My (fair haired white skinned) niece once humiliated me in front of family and members of the public because “ewwwwwwww I can see your tache growing back. You’ve got a tache. OMG do you SHAVE IT?! Hahahahahah”. One of the perils of being light skinned but black wiry haired mixed race is that I struggle with extra body hair.

I waited a day and a half and did something really mean. I’d given her a few odd glances in the forehead region on and off. I took her aside, and quietly said, “sweetheart, promise me you won’t be upset...can I ask who’s been doing your eyebrows?” Then went on to tell her that one looked a lot higher than the other and that it was making her face look assymetrical and that maybe she needed to grow them out a bit and find a new beauty therapist. I said I was only telling her because I was scared someone would make fun of her.

She was a real Regina George style Mean Girl, always criticising other girl’s physical appearances and obsessed with her own looks. I’d remembered the previous year she’d said cooly whilst looking me up and down, “I judge people on the state of their eyebrows.” So I knew I’d get to her. There was fuck all wrong with her eyebrows lol but God did I feel better about my own humiliation seeing the state of eyebrow paranoia it sent her into.

She never picked on my appearance again lol.

I’d be tempted to pull something like that on your Mean Girl. But then I’m petty and probably going to hell

You’re an adult in charge of you’re own body and shouldn’t do non- essential things you don’t enjoy to appease other people.

How old us your dd? Talk to her about personal remarks.

Firstly you don't have to do anything you don't want to do.

Secondly, having said that, I'd put on my teeniest bikini and go, making sure I hugged DD as often as possible so that everyone looked at me and her. Whilst you won't get looked at for being overweight because you're not, she''ll be mortified and embarrassed - let her suffer rude cow.

If my daughter spoke to me like that there would be hell to pay.

She would not be doing anything fun the rest of the holiday at all.

I am a size 20. I would love to be your size OP. I bet you look lovely.

1. do what you like, water parks don’t require group activities

2. speak to your daughter about her rudeness - upper limits of a 12 FGS 🙄

You're a size 12 FGS. You'll be one of the skinny minnies.

Yanbu at all. i'd be the same, I don't like water slides! I sent dp and dss on their own last year.

Id be giving your daughter a few stern words as well mind you.

My kids are much younger than yours but I don't do the most intense rides at theme parks or water parks. I'll queue with them if they want to do it but I've gone past the age of doing things I know I'll hate.

Your DD is 'young teenage'. That's more than old enough to know her remarks were really unkind. I note your evasion of this issue in your replies but really, it's a far more important issue than what you decide to do on your holiday.

I would be horrified if my child said something like that to another person, any person. Those are the sneery kind of remarks made to other sensitive teenagers that start them on the route to eating disorders, self-loathing, a lifetime of body issues. It sounds overly dramatic I know, but I've read so often on here of people damaged by pointed, hateful comments and have experienced it myself. It's not acceptable and you should be addressing her behaviour.

Imagine if you said that to your teenage daughter? Ask her how she'd feel if you did, nasty little madam

So your husband fell about laughing when you were body shamed by your “D”D, but yet is doing the gritted teeth thing about you not going on water rides? He sounds awful - maybe that’s why your daughter is so rude

I’d love to be brave enough to wear a bikini...good on you! But tbh I absolutely wouldn’t wear one on water rides - minimum coverage of swimming costume, preferably rash vest and shorts...the slides are not perfectly smooth and high pressure water can get everywhere! Bikini wedgie is not fun!

Like father, like daughter by the sounds of things

I bet u look lovely.... y should u do things u really dont wanna do it hoilday 2.

I think you're amazing for still wearing a bikini in your 50s

Eh? Surely not that unusual? I'm 44 and in the "upper reaches" of a size 14, and I won't be converting to a one piece bathing suit overnight in six years' time.

That said, I would hesitate for any of my family to visit certain Spanish water parks, as perfectly healthy and slim young people have had life-changing injuries using them.

news.sky.com/story/british-tourist-23-could-be-left-paralysed-after-waterpark-accident-in-spain-11764776#targetText=A%20young%20British%20holidaymaker%20could,waterslide%20at%20Aqualandia%20in%20Benidorm

That disrespectful little madam wouldn't going to the water park if this was my family.

@shearwater I don't know, I'm 23 (average size) and since having my baby don't think I'd be confident enough to wear a bikini that's why I think OP's amazing to be confident enough to wear one

Yeah- perish the thought that a woman in her 50s should actually go out.......