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.

Someone acquiescing to an annoying customer is not the same as being right.

Bit like holding your breath under water is not swimming.

But that’s ok as you can’t make that distinction.

And clapped 😂

So much so that the bus they were all on nearly crashed into a bridge.

Thankfully it didn't enter the water below it. Rumour has it lifeguards today aren't worth shit 😅 luckily there are plenty of young children on standby to save the day

The lifeguards would have quite rightly been stood on the riverbanks politely trying to check with the drowning people whether they had their 10 metre badge

I am surprised that this lifeguard's manager shared details of other people's feedback and criticism with you.

I would say that lifeguard is the only person with grounds to put in a formal complaint about anything here.

I think it was over the top to complain. But I'm not as sensitive to perceived criticism.

Also think a complaint is too much, it’s their job to make sure everyone is safe. Literally within their roles to do just that

This has to be one of the biggest self owns I've read on MN.

OP should I complain , I'm fuming ?

MN No don't be daft

OP Well I complained, they agreed

MN Errr they didn't

Mhm
Sure
This feels real

Ah yes, directness is a terrible trait in a lifeguard. I really want someone to pussyfoot around and gently ask my DC if they are drowning.

What do you hope to gain by making a formal complaint?
She was checking on your ds,doing her job.
Are you after money or attention?

Etiquette question: what sort of gift bag is appropriate when the internet is handing OPs arse back to them?

One that has been recycled from armbands formerly used by two year olds?

Don’t be daft, two year olds don’t need armbands, they should just be chucked in the deep end and eventually they’ll struggle back to their parent in the shallow end.

Oh get a grip there's more than one life guard on duty. Always someone to make something out of nothing. She just couldn't understand why other children her age could go her swimming in the deep end but she couldn't. She actually puts more effort in the deep end. If we go to a pool nobody knows us she does go in the deep end . She's 24 now FFS as long as there's someone with her she's fine.

The PP was right though.

Guarantee you they say fuck all to her. You've wasted everyone's time, including your own.

I’m holding out for claims of a newborn doing an ice mile in skins, personally.

I’m sure there is a proud mummy out there somewhere whose baby went in a chilly bath once who’ll happily exaggerate for us.

Eh? If it's unusual that your child is confident and safe then wouldn't you be more worried if they didn't find it unusual... like wouldn't it be worse if they assumed all children age 2 are confident and safe and the parent was supervising appropriately considering they're lifeguards

You stood out, they checked and explained their concern

Hardly takes much water for children to drown, fuck they can dry down... doesn't always have anything to do with their swimming ability

I dont think @Dinoswearunderpants swim teacher had even taught them properly.
Babies and toddler should be taught to immediately turn back to the side as soon as rhey jump in. Not start swimming away from the edge as op is encouraging her dc to do.

Love it x

I remember a lifeguard snapping at me when he thought I was behaving moderately irresponsibly toward my little sister by the sea. I was eight. He had misunderstood the situation. I was embarrassed and a bit upset but even at that age I understood that he was doing his job and making a fuss would be unfair.

Well, the first time we bathed DD, we were so scared of scalding her, the poor child did have a rather chilly experience, we realised afterwards! But I'm afraid the only record broken was for the shortest possible bath with the most amount of crying. (The next time we got my mum to help and ever since then her baths have had reasonable temperatures and much less crying).