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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Another swimming pool judgey thread... was I, all the parents and the lifeguards right to pull on our judgy pants?

67 replies

Flibbertyjibbet · 22/04/2009 15:21

Last Friday dcs and I went to our usual mum and pre-schoolers swim session at some nice little baths in a small village.

I've been taking my two since ds2 was 12m old to that particular pool cos its sooo hard work - little cubicles round the edge of the pool, trying to get me, two wriggly dcs dry and dressed after in such a confined space.

The toddler session takes place right after a public session, usually full of working people having a lunchtime swim. Last Fri there were the usual 'workers' plus cos of the school hols - a mum with 3 kids the youngest of whom looked about 8 and the other two say 10 and 12.

As we got into the water I noticed the lifeguards gawping open mouthed towards the doors. I looked. I gawped. So did everyone else.

I judged

The mother and 3 kids were leaving the swimming pool dressed in swim suits, towells wrapped round them like they'd just got out of the bath at home, and one child had bare feet.

They were carrying their dry clothes in their swimming bags.

It would never occur to me to do that either to get to the car or get home if they live in the village.

The lifeguards were stunned!

Please tell me I was right to judge (but I'll be interested to hear any pacifists who can think of reasons why I should not have judged )

OP posts:
ChippyMinton · 22/04/2009 15:40

We do this on campsites, five minutes walk back to caravan for a hot shower and change. DC have poncho-style hooded towels for this very purpose.

And after swimming lessons, I've seen kids going home like this, or in their pyjamas.

Flibberty, maybe you should try it?

purpleduck · 22/04/2009 15:40

That's Allowed!!!

No more struggling into dry clothes for us!!!

I think we would have all cracked up!!

solidgoldshaggingbunnies · 22/04/2009 15:44

No reason for it not to be 'allowed' (though possibly pool staff might object if you leave the premises via a nice carpeted area and drip on the carpet). It's not an offence to be seen in public with not much on as long as your genitals (and nipples, if an adult female) are covered. And it's not that big a deal to be nude in public really (SGB remembers art project of a few years ago) as long as you cover up if asked to do so.

Of course, there will always be some moron with too much time on his/her hands who will come and make remarks at you, but sticking your tongue out at them and carrying on as you were is an adequate response.

BalloonSlayer · 22/04/2009 15:48

Hey maybe it was that pool that featured on here recently where people keep pissing in the showers.

Or the one where people dry their minges with the hairdryers.

Or the one where . . . [insert your favourite thread here]

MrsBeakman · 22/04/2009 15:49

Maybe they live opposite the pool and were going home to get straight into the bath

jumpyjan · 22/04/2009 15:52

Have to say I had to reread your post a couple of times as thought I had missed the 'outrageous' thing that these people were doing.

Don't get why its a problem. Guess they must have lived nearby and Mum thought it easier to pop home with 3 kids and let them shower/change there rather than trying to do it at the pool.

Original poster
Flibbertyjibbet · 22/04/2009 15:52

I don't really want to try it as we go on the playground next to the baths afterwards.

You really wouldn't want to be present if my towell flew off whilst I was on the swings or wizzy roundabout thing

OP posts:
ChippyMinton · 22/04/2009 15:54

You need to sew yourself a poncho

flummery · 22/04/2009 15:54

Perhaps they've lived in/are Australian. Unless you're heading somewhere other than home, nobody bothers doing much more than wrapping up in a towel and maybe slinging on a t-shirt here.

Besides, I'd much, much rather shower in my own home than in a manky communal change room.

I'm shocked that an entire poolside crowd, guards included, would think it so odd that they'd need to gawp and judge.

PuppyMonkey · 22/04/2009 15:57

Maybe if they'd taken their swimsuits off and just gone out with only a flimsy towel wrapped round them, I'd be - but the actual scenario you describe sounds like a good idea to me!

Homebird8 · 22/04/2009 15:58

LOL all the way through. Must try it - if only for effect!

Original poster
Flibbertyjibbet · 22/04/2009 16:00

Not a poolside crowd, just 2 lifeguards, about 3 mums and a dad and several pre-schoolers (who didn't even notice).

lol at poolside crowd, like we were in the olympics or something.

OP posts:
belgo · 22/04/2009 16:04

If they live around the corner, then it sounds like a good idea, walk home, have a bath and wash the chlorine out of your hair in your own nice clean private bathroom. I've seen threads on mumsnet from people complaining about swimmers spending too long in the swimming pool showers, well this seems like a good solution to that.

I wish I lived next door to a swimming pool.

ProfYaffle · 22/04/2009 16:04

Don't go to Thorpeness! We visited last year and tons of people were wandering around the streets in cossies/bathrobes/towels on heads.

anniemac · 22/04/2009 16:05

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Original poster
Flibbertyjibbet · 22/04/2009 16:09

no its not a wind up! I had never seen this happen before and I was very surprised to see it on a cool day in the north west! Children practially old enough to be driving never mind able to dress themselves.

but then you are an antipodean, and when I visit my sister down under I can understand where you are coming from anniemac

I think I've planted a seed in lots of minds here and will expect to see it as the norm in future.

OP posts:
LauriefairycakeeatsCupid · 22/04/2009 16:13

Yes, I did this last summer - I live round the corner from the open air swimming pool.

I got out of the pool, pulled towel round me threw kaftan over, and then flip-flopped home to lie in garden.

Would not occur to me that I was strange

specialmagiclady · 22/04/2009 16:17

A small girl arrives at our swimming pool as we are leaving lessons every week. She is wearing her swimming hat, costume, goggles, flip flops and towelling robe. And armbands, actually, now that I think about it.

Whatever the weather.

I don't know how she gets home.

MayorNaze · 22/04/2009 16:17

are you sure that's what everyone was gawping at? are you sure you hadn't missed the naked person leaving 2 seconds before these people?

i would do this. perhaps not quite at this time of year, but i would do it.judge away

it wasn't me by the way!

anniemac · 22/04/2009 16:18

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anniemac · 22/04/2009 16:20

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Original poster
Flibbertyjibbet · 22/04/2009 16:20

Casual - you ain't kidding! I think i did a the first time I saw someone in Bendigo in mocassins.
They are slippers here and if you wear your slippers in the street near me all the neighbours get all overcome with jugyness

OP posts:
Ceebee74 · 22/04/2009 16:21

Aw Flibberty you have bought back some memories with this thread - if it is the swimming pool that I am thinking of, I used to have swimming lessons there when I was at primary school (shows how old the pool is doesn't it??) I can still remember the cubicles around the pool!!

But I only assume they were local or literally getting straight into the car - can't really see much wrong with it tbh.

(BTW I have lost your e-mail address - can you e-mail it to me??)

Pitchounette · 22/04/2009 16:24

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anniemac · 22/04/2009 16:25

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