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

[Blueeyedstork]

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

ha they would double their efforts then for sure

🤣🤣🤣

Not read the thread. You and you family could get a few buckets - or similar - fill them with water and throw them on that child and family - without them seeing who did it, if possible. Run away.🙄

It won't have escaped @MrsBennetsPoorNervesAreBack that there are several posters advocating the same course of action that you are, but there's also plenty of us who think it's better to hang on to the moral high ground and escalate complaints through the management and holiday company, so that's hardly your "haha moment".

YABU to have to mention that someone has "autism" and you have some kind of trauma about cold water - completely unnecessary.

YANBU to raise hell with the staff and demand that the anti-social behaviour affecting you is being stopped immediately, because it's not acceptable. Ask for compensation with the hotel and the rep, not because you reasonably expect anything, but because threats of making such a fuss and demanding money will make them finally take action.

And pray for a client braver than most of us (including myself) physically sorts the problem themselves.

Phone the Spanish garda they won't be laughing then

Just take a bucket of water and throw it over father and son and see how sanguine they are about it- if they bring the management in make your case, do it yourself not hubby, then it is very unlikely to end in fisticuffs.

No one should have to put up with being disrupted as yourself and other holiday makers.

Both the parents and holiday management are lacking in their responses.

I do hope you get it resolved.

Id be livid and talking to the parents. I’m quite used to being vocal.

However could this be used as a catalyst for dealing with the awful experience you had as a child on your return? I can imagine it is quite limiting for you and wouldn’t it be nice to use a pool without fear? It might be worth looking into EDMR? Just an idea and said with kindness.

So we should all just not react to shitty behaviour and hope the perpetrator gets bored? Where do you draw the line?

I would give the kids a stern talking to myself. Not sure if it would make a difference but I can’t help myself in these kinds of situations (ex teacher).

Well they all sound like a vile bag of cnts don’t they. I would be calling them out loudly
and publicly at every incident.

I'd complain and make it clear you will be requesting compensation if this doesn't get dealt with. In UK yes it would be assault but not sure where you are - I would also threaten to contact the police. As for the family in question, I would consider picking up their smallest child and throwing it in the deep end if this carries on.

I can get a fair picture of this type of family from your descriptions. Sounds like the parents don’t give a shit and would be more than happy to come to the defence of their kids anti-social behaviour as if it’s some sort of entitlement.

My advice would be to not escalate and just try to avoid them. Bloody annoying, I know, but I can’t see any good coming from antagonising them. Leaving a poor review of the hotel and saying why is probably your best option. It’s up to the hotel management to sort as I expect that the staff are intimated by them and it’s not worth their low-paid jobs to get involved.

You have my sympathy! Hope they are starting to get the hint and you can enjoy the time you have left!
I'm not long back a holiday and there was one family standing out at our kids pool as well...similar really, water guns/using other toys to deliberately soak people on the sunbeds and young toddlers. The youngest (I'd guess around 5) pushed my 2.5yo really hard down a slide when he was trying to sit down at the top 😭so lucky he wasn't hurt! I shouted at him but he just looked at me like I was stupid and carried on.
They also kept running up every slide and stopping other kids going down etc. Just absolute little shits!! Parents were not even looking at them never mind trying to stop them.
Almost as annoying as the kids was the life guard constantly standing blowing a whistle at them and getting completely blanked. I think his intention was to alert the parents so that they could deal with them but they didn't even look up! Even if the kids weren't mis-behaving, you'd think an occasional glance up to check they were there/safe would be a good idea? The mind boggles...

Oh, the irony!

Sod off UltimateTravelList
Do you want me to buy today’s paper and hold it up against the name of the hotel for proof we are here. Troll hunt somewhere else.

The ball ended up being confiscated by the lifeguard after it hit a young girl in the nose. The family have now disappeared after an argument with the lifeguard that ended up with the mother screeching that they are never coming back to this dump and a bloke shouting out “good” followed by other people giggling. But no one clapped!!!! I was hoping for my first experience of spontaneous clapping when the family from Hell left.

wonder if they will be at the entertainment today.

a family
next to us said they were behind them in the crazy golf yesterday and ended up abandoning the game due to this family being awful.

I have been member of mumsnet for years.
i believe troll hunting is still not allowed.

Same holiday nonsense as prevoous post basically lazy pissed up parents leaving THIER kids unchecked ! Its lovely to hear kids having fun on holiday ! When my boy was 8-14 we went to turkey every year because hotels had aquaparks to keep young uns entertained all day every year id buy a big dinghy with oars and on last day leave it with a family for thier kids to enjoy! Anyway lady year had it tied up outside apartment next morning it was gone when we got to pool family next door had untied it and kids had claimed it so i confronted parents whos answer was if u take it now youll break thier hearts!! And these are the arseholes your dealing with ! I let kids finish day with it and they brought it back later so i give it to them but arsehole lazy parents boil my piss

Hi OP
I read your post at a quiet point this morning at work and just popped on before heading off to see how things turned out. Glad to hear they have been reprimanded!
Hope you enjoy the last couple of days of your holiday!

I see the water issue has been resolved.
But, for future reference, sometimes, with the emphasis on sometimes, you can get a bit further with these type of people by appealing to their better nature.
Because they are anti social and their kids are a pest, they will be very well used to being complained about and tutted at.
This tends to result in increased defiance and taking a kind of pride in sticking two fingers up at 'the snobs'.
Sometimes, you can get better outcomes by treating them as though they're decent. Explain you're frightened of water, ask if they could please help...
It might choke you, but if it gets the desired outcome, it can be worth it. You'll never see them again anyway.

I voted you are being unreasonable because you should have let your husband have words with the kids dad.

I hate arsehole parents, they’re the reason you get arsehole kids

What vile behaviour. I’m glad everyone is finally standing up to this behaviour. It’s so entitled to think their enjoyment comes at the expense of everyone else.
enjoy the rest of your holiday OP

Crap parenting unfortunately, glad the staff are dealing with them now.

Any balls near me I’d keep hold of. I remember years ago some annoying boys doing that in a town centre near me. When one hit me I was conveniently next to a waste bin.
You should have started the clapping!