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

And if they retaliate by pushing the OP in the water?

Best not to escalate.

I would be giving the kids a proper telling off though, as well as their parents.

This is nothing to do with your phobia OP. Being squirted with a water pistol is completely inappropriate for anyone. You need to kick up a massive fuss with the hotel - asking for the manager, demanding a refund, 1 star review, keep going on about it until they sort this out.

You don't need to have a phobia OP to be really upset and angry with this behaviour OP. It's absolutely awful.

Personally I would be talking to the manager and saying that unless he and his staff do something about these anti social guests you will be pursuing the company for a refund. It might be an idea if other families are also finding the behaviour unacceptable to actually see if you can get a deputation together to speak to him.

I think the staff's attitude is a disgrace.

To be honest…. Giving the parents and kids a “proper telling off” is also likely to escalate it. If they’re the type of parents who can get abusive and aggressive then what?

Then call the police.

Chucking water over them im retaliation completely undermines the argument that this is antisocial behaviour. It puts the OP on the same level as the antisocial family.

@MrsBennetsPoorNervesAreBack such a great response, agree with all of this.

Nope, they think it’s hilarious their kids are doing this to the op… so they should get a taster of how the op and everyone else feels because they obviously have zero self awareness.

Love a typo from someone highlighting a typo!!

What a horrible family. Imagine thinking this is a normal way to behave. I hope you get some success with the hotel dealing with them as they should.

Demand again the manager. If you are on a package holiday also the rep. If they are English and there with the same company the rep should be speaking to them. Lay it on thick it is harassment/assault and you will take this further if need be. Next time if in a crowded place call the kid/parent out. I’m saying if crowded as note your comments about the dad but there may be others in that crow who were also victimised.

Do they leave the guns lying around the pool while they go for lunch? I would take my DC to lunch at the same time so they see you there (that way they can’t accuse you as you’d be a prime suspect), meanwhile have DH take out the bit in the gun that actually allows it to work (it’s a springy piece) and then put them back exactly where they were left. He could then rejoin you and DC for lunch.

They probably won't care though.

And with the OP's phobia of being splashed, I can't see how escalating the water fighting is going to help.

I’d love to see your reaction if you were targeted by super soakers every day of your holiday, by the pool, whilst walking to dinner and when you are going to your room. Directly in your face.

OP it’s really awful and I would be fuming. I’d keep going to management and complaining and yes I would consider police if the assault continued.

Get the men together to confront the father of this little scrote and tell him to control his brat......or else

I doubt it would “escalate” the water fight. And I think they would care if they were getting splashed, their sunbeds, clothing and towels were getting soaked. I have done similar things back to people (different situations not involving water) and it soon wiped the smile off their faces when they realised they were getting a taste of their own medicine.

Brilliant 😂😂😂

Well, that is not a risk that I would recommend that the OP should take. I think an adult approach is more likely to get results than descending to the same level as this disgusting family.

The op (and others) have tried the adult approach by speaking to staff at the hotel who were not bothered and op has also spoken to the parents and the parents laughed it off and told the op that she’s at a pool so should expect it.

I'd be channelling my peri-menopausal rage and smashing the f**k out of those water guns right in front of the little tossers.

1. Speak to the manager
2. if that doesn’t work, go the nearest shop, buy a kids beach bucket, fill it with water and chuck it straight over them including the parents individually.

We had this years ago when i was little (not with water pistols but just this kid constantly splashing). He did it to everyone, some parents tried splashing him back but it didn’t work. The kid ended up making my sister cry who was 4 at the time and in a floaty. My dad got so fed up he cannonballed in front of the kids family who were on sun beds and it was like a tidal wave 😂. Everyone cheered and clapped, they left and we didnt see them again. Sometimes you have be childish and play them at their own game.

Complain to the hotel manager first thing this morning. Loudly in a public area. If you booked through a travel agent or tour operator tell them too.

Someone needs to remove the toy (don’t break it, tempting though that is), and hand it in to the hotel - make it their problem.

Let's just agree to differ on this. You think retaliating with water would be the best idea. I think it's a terrible idea. We don't have to agree. Ultimately, the OP will make her own decisions about how to handle the situation.

Don't respond in kind by squirting water/pushing in the pool or any of the other stupid suggestions. The family will up their game.

Kicking up a stink at reception in front of all the arriving guests and demanding to see the manager would be the way I would go about it.

And agree with PP who asked you to name and shame the hotel.

Fwiw, I feel sorry for those kids squirting you. They're the way they are for a reason. Sounds like they haven't got a hope in hell of becoming decent adults with parents like theirs.

Haha please see post above by @Bookbears