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

Anyone would be unhappy about this,

Report to the hotel manager every single time. Ask him to act and instruct his staff to act. Liberal mentions of complaints to head office, trip advisor reviews and your friend who is a travel journalist.

Buy your own water gun and spray the kids and parents when they're not expecting it.

Goodness I can’t imagine being at a hotel
and someone else’s kid spraying people with water guns. People would kick off!
If management isn’t doing anything then I’d start leaving bad reviews online right now.
And I’d grab the gun off the kid if they came anywhere near me.

You're free to ignore bad behaviour if you like, but please don't suggest that it's normal for kids to behave in such antisocial ways.

We had the issue of kids knocking on our door and running away. I never did that as a kid either, and neither did my dc. I ignored it a couple of times and the banging just got louder. We have elderly neighbours who might be scared by this behaviour, so I did go out and give them a strong telling off. I also spoke to one of the parents. The behaviour stopped.

Eugh, what a nasty little shit and his prick of a dad as well, I hate families like this! I’d be tempted to push the little fucker in the pool (and worse).

You are not being unreasonable OP and have every right to enjoy your holiday. I’d see if there are any day trips you can do or a beach you can go to to avoid them if the hotel are not going to do anything about it unfortunately. Are there any sister hotels you are allowed to use?

Why are you gaslighting the OP? She's clearly stated they are doing it to everyone, including an autistic child.

It's not 'what kids do', it's compeltely unacceptable behaviour and the parents are completely inept.

I don't know why people keep suggesting it because a) the kids would see it as all part of the fun and b) it messes up the complaint to the hotel if they've been engaging in the same behaviour and c) OP would probably get further splashed which she doesn't like!

Yep. Imagine having counselling because other people can’t/ won’t control their kids. Why do people feel the need to jump to “counselling” as a solution to every issue that someone experiences

There's always one family like this who have no respect for anyone else. Usually any parents are always shouting at their kids to keep thibgs within the pool or if they do soak someone by splashing or whatever, they apologise.

Petty, but bad reviews /social media usually sorts these things out as management don't want to put people off. I'd be put off a resort if I knew management weren't dealing with customers problems.

FGS, no most kids didn’t and don’t do this. And given the spate of drownings in the news - some of which will be caused by cold water shock - no parent should be taking kids pushing others into water so lightly.

The kids are obnoxious little twats who’ve clearly never been corrected if they take pleasure in other people’s discomfort. The parents are bigger twats for encouraging it. Eventually they will get their comeuppance, people like that usually do. Always someone bigger, bolder and brattier. But for now @Blueeyedstork the way to go is probably complaining to the most senior member of staff, any reps and making it known to other guests that these kids are out of control and the hotel are doing nothing.

If you were in the bloody pool then it’s expected you’ll get wet, not on the side on a sun lounger! The family are twats. Also what happened to you on your residential was awful op.

This.
Older kids (and a teenager) in my street did it repeatedly until I told them I'd be banging at their door in the middle of the night and when their parents asked why, I'd be telling them that this was the reward for their kids constant disturbance of my dog and baby.

Also explained to them that their are a number of elderly people who may be scared, or could potentially fall trying to get to the door to see who it was.

Never happened again. Kids will be kids but when the majority are asked to stop, they do.

Buy the biggest super-soaker you can find, and keep squirting the parents. See if they find it funny then.

This is why I now seek out adult only hotels - my DC are adults now. Sorry OP it sounds awful for everyone. I hope that family leave soon or the hotel take action.

I just remembered one of my brothers being a right twat when we were on holiday (he had behavioural issues when we were young, our parents tried hard and did not condone but they couldn't stop everything) and he picked on one man in particular. Don't remember exactly what he did but probably things like splashing him, saying rude things to him etc. and the man eventually had enough and got together a group of men who picked my brother up, fully clothed, and tossed him in the swimming pool. They also filmed it, and then played the video in the hotel bar where everyone gathered for entertainment in the evenings, to thoroughly shame my brother. So perhaps a plan B if the complaints book doesn't work...*

*not really, not with the description you gave of the dad, and the fact that the parents don't seem to give a shit about their kids behaving like that

Little shits and piss poor parenting.
I’d complain to management and say they’re spoiling your holiday and you’re less than impressed with the lack of action from staff so far.

🤭

I would do this. I’m pretty sure the little shits won’t be squirting their own parents.

Did you read the post AT ALL?

Unacceptable behaviour. It’s nothing to do with your phobia. I doubt many people would want a stranger purposely squirting them in the face with water when they’re lying there relaxing.

The problem here is their f**kwit of a father who’s encouraging them and laughing along with them - and, by the look of it, buying them even larger water soakers. Speak to the manager again and insist this be stopped, else you’ll be taking further action.

Tempting as it is to indulge in some gratifying responses like getting your DC to shove a plate of food in their face and telling them ‘kids will be kids’, don’t do this because you’ll immediately lose the higher ground.

I'd take the guns off them to be honest. Just grab them and get rid of them. Or, go and buy one for yourself and fight back. No way would I just let them away with it!!

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

This is not quite the superior comment you meant it to be when you also made a typo. Mean, unnecessary and obnoxious though, yes.

I was just going to ask the same. The irony of policing someone's grammar and not proofreading your own post. Perfect.

Get your own water gun and stalk the little shits all day, blasting them when they least expect it. See how they like it.

Exactly. On the bright side I bet their neighnours at home are getting a well deserved break.
OP, you shouldn't have to do anything directly with them yourselves, the hotel should be dealing with it by asking them to leave immediately.