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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be annoyed at this child and family (on holiday)

307 replies

Blueeyedstork · 29/05/2026 00:14

We are in Spain at the moment with another couple and their kids. DH and I have one DS (13)

a bit of backstory relevant to this is when I was 11 I was pushed out of a boat on the lake in the Lake District on a school residential trip and was not allowed to get changed until the rest of the activities that afternoon were finished. So I was wet and freezing cold. It also took someone ages to respond to the fact I had been pushed out the boat, so ever since then I have had a phobia of cold water and being out my depth. It’s got to the point where a single spash can freak me out so I stay out of the pool as I know it’s unreasonable on a family resort to ask kids not to splash. it’s my problem and I deal with it.

anyway fast forward the last 2 days we have been sat on sunbeds and there is a family of 3 kids with water guns just squirting them at everyone on the sunbeds. The first time I jumped out of my skin. My husband asked them to stop and other people have asked them to stop including a family with a child with autism who was getting really upset. The parents just shrug and said we are by a pool so we should expect it. Eventually the mothers of the child with autism when to get one of the staff members and they were told to pack it in.

today they were back doing the same thing. They got me twice and once in the face which really panicked me. The staff at the pool today were not bothered and would not tell them to stop so I spend the afternoon sitting away from the pool. I had been there about 10 minutes with my eyes shut before I feel this cold water on my face and one of the little buggers and stood there spraying right in my face. Well I feel off the chair and have injured my shoulder. My husband marched up to the staff and demanded the manager of the hotel. The lifeguard then actually asked the family to stop.

Then coming back from evening meal tonight and we were suddenly all covered with water and one of the little buggers was stood outside his chalet squirting people going past but this time he has obviously been bought the biggest super soaker in the shop. The boy laughed and shouted “dad it’s the lady who screams when she is squirted” (I didn’t really scream just let out a yelp a few times). The dad burst out laughing. I had to hold DH back from confronting him. (The dad is built like a brick shit house and looks the type that would punch someone just for fun)

anyway we when to reception and reported them but the staff don’t seem bothered. I kind of feel these boys will be out to get me tomorrow as they obviously find my reaction funny. the parents don’t give a toss

we have 3 days left and I don’t want to be looking over my shoulder all the time. What can I do or am I being unreasonable about all this

OP posts:
SallyDraperGetInHere · 29/05/2026 00:20

They’re spoiling your enjoyment.

ThisAutumnTown · 29/05/2026 00:23

Demand to speak to the manager again and say unless the family are dealt with, you’ll be taking it further and will also be leaving a 1 star review.

TinyRebel · 29/05/2026 00:25

Take their toy and break it.

HelenaWilson · 29/05/2026 00:25

Demand to speak to the manager again and say unless the family are dealt with, you’ll be taking it further

Isn't it assault? Say you'll be contacting the police.

MauriceTheMussel · 29/05/2026 00:26

I’d grab the little fuck’s gun and break it in front of him tbh

AMurderofMurderingCrows · 29/05/2026 00:29

It would be most unfortunate if, when you were passing the child, that you accidentally grabbed the water gun and stuck it up their father's arse...

ClayPotaLot · 29/05/2026 01:15

Get a group of parents together, get the biggest water gunns you can and soak the parents and staff who aren't bothered about stopping them.

Well, maybe not, but that's what I'd fantasize about doing. That's really inappropriate and I'd be putting it in a review with photos of the the whole oikish family.

SheSaidHummingbird · 29/05/2026 01:24

Do you really sat 'when' instead of 'went'?

Sensiblesal · 29/05/2026 01:30

SheSaidHummingbird · 29/05/2026 01:24

Do you really sat 'when' instead of 'went'?

We all make typos 😆

OP, I would speak to the hotel manager again in the morning. Make sure they record the accident & injury to your shoulder & get it checked by a Dr if you need to.

is the hotel near the beach? Can you spend time there to avoid this family if the hotel won’t kick them out.

this is not about your phobia being triggered at all, this is a chavvy family engaging in anti social behaviour and spoiling other peoples holidays for their own amusement. The kids sound feral!!

Happyjoe · 29/05/2026 01:34

AMurderofMurderingCrows · 29/05/2026 00:29

It would be most unfortunate if, when you were passing the child, that you accidentally grabbed the water gun and stuck it up their father's arse...

Sideways!

Meaowth33 · 29/05/2026 01:36

SheSaidHummingbird · 29/05/2026 01:24

Do you really sat 'when' instead of 'went'?

Do you really say 'sat' instead of 'say'?

Cheddars · 29/05/2026 01:40

Not being unreasonable at all. I would definitely take it up with the manager of the hotel.

OpenCloseSplit · 29/05/2026 01:41

SheSaidHummingbird · 29/05/2026 01:24

Do you really sat 'when' instead of 'went'?

Do you really use “sat” instead of “say”?

Thequeenofwishfulthinking · 29/05/2026 01:47

I would get a couple of buckets of water ready first thing and tip the full contents over their heads next time you see them.
When they complain (and they definitely will) say you thought they wanted a water fight given their recent behaviour but you must have got the wrong end of the stick etc.
Act completely innocent and baffled by their negative reaction..

Ferrissia · 29/05/2026 01:48

Absolutely complain to as high a level as you can - outline the events with the family and the staff's response for the record. Get the other family involved too for support. Make it clear that your issue is not with the family (the world contains some awful people unfortunately), but with the hotel staff failing to maintain an enjoyable environment for their guests - and in particular failing to keep guests physically safe.

TallSturdyGirl · 29/05/2026 01:51

For the sake of the holiday csn you go rent a car dor the rest of the trip or get a bus and go somewhere away from the awful family? It mighr be more fun and you won't be on edge.
If you are skint, and have all inclusive you can get a packed lunch.so just the cost of a bus/car.

Ferrissia · 29/05/2026 01:52

TallSturdyGirl · 29/05/2026 01:51

For the sake of the holiday csn you go rent a car dor the rest of the trip or get a bus and go somewhere away from the awful family? It mighr be more fun and you won't be on edge.
If you are skint, and have all inclusive you can get a packed lunch.so just the cost of a bus/car.

Good idea - the hotel should be paying for it if they aren't requiring the other family to leave.

Sugarnspicenallthingsnaice · 29/05/2026 01:55

Leave a 1 star Google review now. That usually gets hotels moving on whatever issue you have.

poetryandwine · 29/05/2026 01:57

I agree with @Ferrissia and @ThisAutumnTown

Fantasies of violence may be satisfying but the suggestions are neither realistic nor helpful. Escalating the water fight could land you, as an adult, in trouble.

The issue is the indifference or ineffectiveness of the staff. You and the other families need to make it more painful for them to continue this than to do their job. Confronting them as a group and demanding action might work. If it doesn’t, try again and bring up that you will write multiple scathing reviews with implications for their livelihoods.

Beenwhereyouareagain · 29/05/2026 02:08

SheSaidHummingbird · 29/05/2026 01:24

Do you really sat 'when' instead of 'went'?

Oh dear lordy. 🙄
You'll likely find your people in the Pedants' Corner.

BTW, I saw your own little mistake, but I didn't want to point it out.🩵

TulipCat · 29/05/2026 03:54

They sound awful and you're not being remotely unreasonable to expect not to be squirted at the side of the pool. It's one thing to accept the odd splash if you're actually in the pool or near the edge of it, but this is deliberately targeting others with their anti social behaviour. Staff should absolutely be doing more to stop this and it's appalling that they're absolving themselves from taking action.

Catcentral · 29/05/2026 03:59

SallyDraperGetInHere · 29/05/2026 00:20

They’re spoiling your enjoyment.

No shit

justjuggling · 29/05/2026 04:04

Buy a large water gun and ‘accidentally’ spray the parents when they are reading or napping and the same to the boy when he’s eating. Make sure his lunch gets nice and soggy. 😀

CircleofWillis · 29/05/2026 04:23

Film yourself telling the parents and children that you do not consent to being shot at or splashed or to be included in their play in any way. If it happens again you will report them to the police for assault. Let the hotel know that if they do not stop the family ‘every single time’ they direct the water pistol at someone who doesn’t consent you will be posting videos, rating the resort online and calling the police. Plus you will be suing the resort for failing to keep you safe.

sashh · 29/05/2026 04:31

Is it a package holiday? If so contact the rep or the company, with luck the family have booked the same holiday, the company have a few options, including ( but very rarely) banning them from future holidays.

You know which chalet they are in, could you buy something noisy like a musical instrument and practice it?

I'd be tempted to put on my most formal clothes, get a clipboard and go around making notes.

If anyone asks any questions, just tell them you can't discuss it, ask which member of staff was on duty as the life guard. Ask about their training. Ask for their policy on dealing with complaints. Ask to see their fire emergency policy. Ask to see their health and safety policy.

Do not answer any questions, just make notes.

You want to rattle them.

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