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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

aibu to think that when in toddler pool....

28 replies

fransmom · 20/06/2008 17:04

.... that the mother who lets her sons throw a beach ball around, shouldn't wait for the bloody lifeguard to confiscate it before she says something? and then she (the mother)has a go at her (the lifeguard) for tkaing it off them !!
btw, it nearly hit dd on the head who isn't really that confident a swimmer atm and it nearly hit a baby as well. these boys were obv a lot older and look like they should've been in school. this had to happen at least three times before something was said (cue glares from fm to lifeguard and thinking when are you going to say something woman?)

OP posts:
lisasimpson · 20/06/2008 17:05

not at all. He should have removed them from the pool as well!

funnypeculiar · 20/06/2008 17:06

Beachballs aren't exactly heavy or hard, are they? Not sure I'd have been too bothered...

Original poster
fransmom · 20/06/2008 17:09

no they're not that hard fp bu thave you took a toddler into what should be a toddler pool and have older boys not care baout where the ball lands? it scared dd and that's why i am annoyed, they should have more respect, beach balls are for the beach not a small swimming pool.

OP posts:
Love2bake · 20/06/2008 17:10

Sounds like normal swimming pool play to me -I would not have been that bothered either.

Love2bake · 20/06/2008 17:12

How old were the other boys??

Original poster
fransmom · 20/06/2008 17:12

i think you are missing the point, dd is not a very confident swimmer and this scared her. parents should haev the right to take their children into a toddler pool and not have things thrown about.

OP posts:
Original poster
fransmom · 20/06/2008 17:13

about 7 and 9 i think

OP posts:
funnypeculiar · 20/06/2008 17:13

Hummm, even so, big kids mess about in the toddler pool, that's just how it is.
I'd be unimpressed that the mother had a rant, as I wouldn't be surprised it was frowned upon. But I wouldn't personally bothered about the ball being there I don't think.
Sorry

Love2bake · 20/06/2008 17:13

Well it depends whether the other kids were also toddlers - it sounds like this was not the case though.

Original poster
fransmom · 20/06/2008 17:14

there were lots of toddlers there and young babies too

OP posts:
hullygully · 20/06/2008 17:14

It's very difficult when they are different ages. I used to hate the older children, nasty, rough and careless, at the playground when my two were small - and now they're the big ones who get glared up when they're only playing...

themildmanneredjanitor · 20/06/2008 17:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

purpleduck · 20/06/2008 17:15

Beachballs are pretty light, so I'm not sure I would be that annoyed
How old were the boys?

Is the toddler pool age resiticted, or is it a TEACHING pool?

Sometimes the big pool is just too big for some older kids - just because they are older does not mean that they are confident swimmers

funnypeculiar · 20/06/2008 17:15

x-post.

But, if your dd is not a confident swimmer (neither is my ds) then lots of things could scare her in the pool - eg an older child surfacing suddenly/splashing near her/generally horsing about etc.
I guess my point is that beachballs aren't nec that much worse, in terms of the child's experience.

funnypeculiar · 20/06/2008 17:16

MMJ, I was trying REALLY hard not to say that

2shoes · 20/06/2008 17:16

7 and 9 is big???

Original poster
fransmom · 20/06/2008 17:17

i suppose that i think it's because i think older children should be careful round younger children in the swimming pool and that there is a general lack of respect, they were also jumping into the pool round the younger children even though there were signs about.

OP posts:
Wilkiepedia · 20/06/2008 17:17

Fransmom - I wouldn't have been thrilled either but I would have spoken to the lifeguard or politely asked the mother if she would mind asking her boys to play away from the small children

Love2bake · 20/06/2008 17:17

I think the beach ball is irelevant.

But the older ones mucking about in the toddler pool is a bit unreasonable. Especially if they did have their own swmming pool to play in.

Wilkiepedia · 20/06/2008 17:18

MMJ - I think you were a little unfair with your post

themildmanneredjanitor · 20/06/2008 17:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LIZS · 20/06/2008 17:23

If the older kids were with an adult and a younger one then they were probably in the more suitable pool. Unless there is an age restriction or a no toy policy it is unfortunate your dd nearly got hit but not to be unexpected unless you are at a speicifc mum and tot session.

purpleduck · 20/06/2008 17:30

My kids are 6 and 8 {but v. well behaved around babies ] It took ages for my youngest to feel comfortable in the big pool. She is still small.
The oldest is now allowed in the big pool on his own, but he wasn't until he was 8, and could swim a length.

Sometimes being in the teaching pool is the only compromise when you have 2 kids with different abilities.

Also, people splashing about is a NORMAL swimming pool condition. Yes you worry (i remember being annoyed with "big" kids too). Your dd just has to get used to it - it is part of the experience.

BTW, I know lots of older kids who are very scared of the water. Maybe these kids are too scared to be in the big pool, and their mum was building their confidence with letting them have a play.

At least the lifegaurd did something though.

cornsilk · 20/06/2008 17:30

Was it specifically a toddler pool? Where I live the leisure centres have 2 pools, a 25m pool and a 10m pool. The 25m pool is mainly used by those who can swim. The 10 m pool is for anyone really, but just children who can't swim much tend to go in with their parents.It is quite likely that the 7 and 9 year olds couldn't swim and their mum was trying to get them used to having fun in the water with the beach ball.

Flashman · 20/06/2008 23:27

Fran - you never answered is this your first child?