Was I unreasonable to take my daughters with me to get my nails done?

[OrlaMcCool]

I changed my name for this because I’ve told other people about it.
I was planning on getting my nails done for a special occasion today and I went to a hotel spa I’d been given a voucher for.

I have taken my daughters (5 and 9) with me to a walk in nail bar before and they sit with snacks and their iPad.
No one has ever complained and some customers and the technicians seem to have enjoyed having them there and chatting about colours and designs. If it’s too busy for them to sit next to me then they sit in the waiting area.

The only suitable appointment was today at 4pm so after school. I had no choice so took my girls with me planning to do the same and let them sit and wait with their iPad.
When I arrived the woman on reception said in a really shitty tone of voice that kids weren’t allowed inside not even to wait quietly.
I said they would be really good but she said absolutely not because there were people in rooms having treatments and they wanted to keep a relaxing atmosphere.

I do understand this and didn’t realise that they did nails by the treatment rooms, I asked if there was anywhere else they could sit and I was practically begging.
Another woman came over and said she was the owner and said I needed to make another appointment. I explained I didn’t have a chance and that my daughters would be quiet and watch the lpad and I could turn the volume as low as possible or even turn it off, I was nearly in tears because I was embarrassed and frustrated.

The owner said that no children were allowed in the spa under any circumstances and was hostile and standing like a bouncer at the door. I left because I didn’t want to make a fuss but I was holding back tears and thought the way she spoke to me was rude and unfair.

I know it wasn’t ideal and I probably didn’t think it through properly because I’m used to taking my girls with me to the usual place I go to.
I think they could have been a bit kinder and let them sit in reception but I suppose they didn’t know that they will actually sit and behave nicely.
I’m not asking if I was unreasonable to take them, I want to know if I’m unreasonable for expecting the staff to have been less aggressive and for speaking to me that way in front of my children and making them sound like a nuisance.

I was going to complain to the hotel that rents the space to the spa but my sister said I was being ridiculous and told me to post for opinions on here.

The receptionist isn’t a free babysitter and nor should they be. That you let your kids play iPad noise in public says it all really.

To be fair my salon adores my daughter 8. They always ask about her. Shes always at school

She’s been in twice to have nails done for Xmas and summer as a treat

So yes some salons are happy to have kids

but this spa wasn’t

Imagine if everyone brought two (annoying) children with them.

they will actually sit and behave nicely.
But they don’t. If they have headphones on, they talk too loudly. That’s not good behaviour. You have some teaching to do.

I would have made sure the sound was as low as possible
So your norm is to take them everywhere and let them watch the iPad with the volume on. Wow.

I let them pick out my colours and they enjoy getting involved and sometimes chatting to other customers and staff. If I can see that someone isn’t keen on chatting then I redirect them back to the iPad
No customer or staff should be in a position to be irritated by your children in the first place.

Listen OP, I am sure you have delightful children. But nobody will like them as much as you do. Please do not complain to the spa. My first thought was that it would be for insurance reasons they were not allowed in.

Stop taking them to nail bars too. I wouldn’t want to make polite chat with your children. You would not know it but I would be irritated I am afraid.

I think they should have been polite though, there is no excuse for rudeness.

#BeKind 🙄. Not when I’m having child free time I fucking won’t

Doesn’t it stink when you get your nails done anyway? I always get light headed just walking past.

Im sure it can’t be good for children to be in that environment.

I think if your kids are too young to understand ‘don’t talk wearing headphones as it’s really loud for everyone else’ then they’re too young to be left unattended in the reception area anyway.

You know you shouldn’t have then on iPads with volume on ANYWHERE except your own home, right???

oh and I have 3 teen / adult kids and maintained my nails throughout without ever once bringing them to a nail bar. And I had no family to look after them.

Don’t play the ‘ be kind’ card.
You were not kind. You disrespected the staff and the rules of the business. You wanted special treatment. You cried and begged when you did not get your own way. Your actions upset your kids. Teach them by example to be respectful of others and deal with unexpected situations with grace and adaptability.

The only person who should of handled it better is you. Service workers are not babysitters.

I feel like you were being extra unreasonable as it sounds like you let your kids watch their iPads in public without headphones?! That’s so, so rude. Please, if you’re going to take your kids with you to places at least don’t let them watch their iPads without headphones. It’s my pet peeve. I do feel like in this instance, a spa is a very different vibe to a nail bar. Really unreasonable to expect to take kids and to keep pushing after being told no.

Wow entitled much.
You were told no and kept trying it on anyway and expected an exception to be made just for you😱
Ofcourse the manager had to step in you'd been told no 3 times but kept pushing. You were bang out of order and are lucky that they're letting you rebook with your attitude

I’m sure the technicians don’t normally enjoy chatting to your children. It just makes the entire process more tedious and stressful.

This. It's important to model good behaviour in front of your children.

It's so entitled to think that these women should supervise her daughters!
Also, no-one "adores" a stranger's children. They put up with them.

I'm asking honestly here, what do you think they could have done to be more understanding? (That doesn't involve them saying yes your children can stay) Because I don't see what more they could've done - they didn't want (or couldn't have) your children there. You didn't take no for an answer, multiple times. Saying you need to rebook seems a reasonable response to me.

Good grief, I pay through the nose for a spa/salon to get away from my own annoying DC. If I heard so much as a squeak from someone else’s crotch goblin when I was having a treatment, I’d be seriously pissed off.

And imagine if every customer brought 2 kids and 2 iPads (and no headphones) along. It’s not a fucking crèche.

I agree with the salon owner.
Parents who bring their kids to salons always insist their kids a little angels and won’t disturb anyone. I’m here to tell you you’re wrong really you’re wrong.

YABU. And the fact that you let your kids watch their iPads without headphones in any public space tells me that you’re entitled and think little of others around you. Even in a normal nail bar who wants to listen to that? Most people won’t say anything but they’ll all be irritated.

How irresponsible of you to allow your children to sit in all those fumes.
No one enjoys children hanging around things that aren’t meant for adults they felt sorry for them as you showed them you aren’t a responsible parent.

YABU. Don’t take your kids to a spa, don’t have them in public shared spaces with ANY level of volume coming out of iPads. You may go through life oblivious to it, but it’s actually super annoying to many other people. Going to the spa/beauty salon is a treat for many women, who may even be relishing the time spent away from their own kids for a short while. They don’t want yours there, however lovely they may be.

👏👏

I explained I didn’t have a chance and that my daughters would be quiet and watch the lpad and I could turn the volume as low as possible or even turn it off, I was nearly in tears because I was embarrassed and frustrated.

Without headphones?? Oh you’re one of those people.

My children would have hated being dragged to a nail bar after school. They were ready to come home after a long day.

Ah, but hers are obviously special...

I have got the point about the iPad volume.

I will make sure I always have headphones for the girls or I’ll mute the volume.