To be fuming with lifeguard/safe guarding officer at gym

[Dinoswearunderpants]

I'm beyond livid and just wondering if I should see things from a different point of view.

My DS is 2 and has been taking swimming lessons since 8 weeks old at our local gym.

I take him swimming 2-3 times a week as he loves the water. It's a great activity for him.

He swims without arm bands for a short distance 3-5 meters then holds onto me or the side of the pool.

He loves swimming, extremely confident and understands the safety in the water i.e never goes to the water without an adult, holds onto the side or adult when in the water.

I took him today and was approached by a lifeguard (who also said she's the safe guarding officer) I've never seen before who said she was 'deeply concerned' about him swimming and him drinking too much water.

I explained we take lessons here and he is holding his breath for the 3-5 meters he's swimming. He wasn't coughing or in any distress.

He would jump in from the side, swim to me, I'd hold him an explain he needs to wait a moment (so he can catch his breath) then he'd swim to the side and jump back in. All this done on his own accord and a big smile on his face.

I asked the lady to speak with his swim instructor, who was there at the time. She said she'd spoken to another lifeguard who had concerns.

Both lifeguards don't have kids and are in their early 20s.

I explained what happened to the swim instructor and her words were 'I'm disgusted they said something, I'm so sorry'.

I appreciate not many 2 years can swim however he can as I've always wanted to ensure he's safe in the water.

I think I'm going to raise a complaint as they say no evidence of distress. My son wasn't coughing or anything. He was having a great time as he usually does.

It makes me not want to take him there any more but I'm still tied into a contract with them.

Not that she was wrong though eh. Just the tone. That is a way of telling you you’re wrong for the record.

Thank you for this, very sensible.

I don’t like this tone of ‘I’m teaching water safety unlike the rest of you who didn’t start lessons as early as I did’.

My two eldest never went near a swimming lesson until they got them in year 5 at school. They are both very good swimmers. Those of us who took a more relaxed approach or, god forbid, didn’t regularly go to a pool when they were tiny, didn’t do a bad job. As you quite rightly point out, tragedies are more likely to happen when a child can swim than when they can’t and therefore don’t go near water.

Tbh are we really discussing the ins and outs of water safety and when to learn to swim etc? The OP is doing well with her child in that regard imho.

But what we are really discussing is a proud mum being put out because - ( wait for it ) she is "questioned too directly"

by some newbie has received their half day training course in safe guarding, they're now an expert? ( OP's words)

Absolute Pissy nonsense.

Why the need to react so outrageously! She raised a concern that was valid. Maybe did so in a manner that could be less abrupt.

Surely all you had to do is thank her for doing her job correctly, say that you understand why she'd be concerned, and reassure her that you indeed check that he doesn't absorb water and you are satisfied that he doesn't.

End of!

That’s a convenient outcome 🤔

I think it's better that they're overzealous than the opposite. Imagine if they get a bollocking and choose not to act on their instincts next time.

Did they, aye? If anyone believes this then they would believe anything 😂

You'd have been better keeping a dignified silence.

I really hope that the lifeguard isn't dissuaded from reacting like this in future. They did the right thing and it'd be awful if OP's attitude that their child is Michael Phelps contributed to a tragedy in future.

'But what we are really discussing is a proud mum being put out because - ( wait for it ) she is "questioned too directly"'

Exactly. And your comment about their ages, and your guess that they don't have children both speak volumes

I hope that poor lifeguard doesn't get a bollocking for doing her job

Let's hope the life guard gets her "directness" managed . Not her attention to detail.

But let's face it no one believes that would happen.

" Ms LifeGuard, You're being too quick of the mark...."

Yeah right. 😄

Agreed.
Or maybe that's what they told the op just to get her to leave them in peace

@Dinoswearunderpants then did everyone clap?

What on earth 🤣🤣

"A FORMAL complaint" no less......

🤣🤣🤣🤣

😭😭😭

I think you may look back on this as your peak Karen moment. Hope you feel better about it now though.

What message will he relay to the lifeguard?! “If you see a toddler in difficulty in the water mind your tone?!? “

This is cringe. You will look back and absolutely cringe yourself stupid when you get out of the tiger mummy “my child can swim at 8 weeks” toddler parent zone.

If you say so. Let's hope another child doesn't drown because the lifeguard is now worried about idiots complaining about her doing her job properly. Pathetic.

I hope you feel this smug if you go swimming in a couple of weeks time and find that the pool is closed due to not having a qualified lifeguard on duty because they met one too many entitled snotty parents and handed in their notice.

I think you need to consider how much harm you have done by complaining. I reallyd do hope these lifeguards continue to put themselves out and keep considering the welfare and safety of children in the pool over and above the 0.1% of children who can swim at 2 years old. You really need some perspective on this.

I have been through all this with one of my children in another dangerous activity. Able to carry it out in safety beyond her years. However i ALWAYS took the extra attention and barriers we had to jump as COMPLIMENTS. It meant the people in charge were doing their jobs and it was my responsibility to accept their questioning and sometimes accept that even though i knew we were safe, we had to abide by their rules.

These people have to look after the other 99.9% of people who maybe are pushing their luck with their 2 year old and need to be told.

👏👏
I didnt think it was possible to come across worse than in her OP but she managed it

Wow you are really something else, you sound slightly unhinged to me. So you are quite happy to have put in a formal complaint about a lifeguard as you were “livid” about the way you were treated. Shame on you!

Offf. That’s a nasty reply.

Hmmm

sure they did….

And then everyone cheered