The strictest pool rules can’t stop stupid

I hear you. I became so angry with one kid at our local community pool that I ended up watching his antics more than I was watching my own toddler. He cut in line numerous times, he jumped on people in the pool, he even antagonized me after I reported him to the lifeguards. At one point I told him I would get him kicked out of the pool. Well, he apparently was some hot shot on the swim team because all the lifeguards knew his name and still didn’t do anything. The person I thought to be his mother was too engaged in tanning herself to notice or care what her son was doing. This kid was about 13 or so.
I guess I’m the only mom who notices these things and I feel alone and mean when I’m the one who speaks up. Recently we were at the park and some kids (about the same age as above monster) were using some pretty heavy swear words. When I yelled over, “Hey you guys watch the language,” another mom decided to chime in with, “yeah you guys.” Gee, thanks a lot lady for all your support. Why do I always have to be the bad guy? I suppose she may have thought these were my kids since I was kicking their ball around a little, but still. It’s the same way on the block where we live. My husband and I may start offering lessons to our neighbors on how to say no and mean it. I want the respect I was expected to give my neighbors growing up. Respect my property, respect me and my house rules. Don’t blame my kids for having parents that give a damn either.

Thank you for letting me vent.

I hear you, too, Marian. I told the life guard about the kid throwing his football around in a pool filled with toddlers, and the lifeguard just looked at me. Good grief. I’m pretty strict with my kids on manners, too.

When I was growing up, our community pool had a diving board and slide. We “double-bounced” eachother on the diving board and did bombs on top of eachother….but never with reckless abandon. We played “sharks and minnows” and “marco polo” from the time the pool opened to well after dusk. “Gutter ball” was our favorite game. However, we had specific guidelines that were given by the lifeguards about throwing the nerf ball…as well as the specific guidelines regarding diving board and slide use. I remember being asked to get out of the pool on a few occasions because my nerf-throwing was not quite that accurate.

The point is, liability issues weren’t a problem back then because the lifeguards and pool manager had complete control of rowdy behavior and safety issues. Rules were enforced and parents were talked to when necessary. The pool manager set the tone for the pool and he/she was the person to talk to when the lifeguards are not doing their job.

Lifeguards have a very tough time dealing with all the different personalities of parents and kids, but, with strong pool management, they can make the swimming experience a good one for all.

Raging Rivers does a tremendous job with pool management and the lifeguards are very well trained to stop rough-housing and rude behavior.

I am so tired of parents who won’t teach manners. How hard is it to teach ‘please, thank you’ and other polite mannerisms? What about personal space? It’s now ok for someone to knock you over in a store without so much as an ‘I’m sorry.’

The problem isn’t the lifeguards and pool management, it’s that kids know they won’t get in trouble for misbehavior. As a kid, I wouldn’t have acted that way for fear of getting kicked out and punished at home.

I was fortunate enough as a young teen to have membership in a local pool. There were always safety rules to abide by (even if we were on the swim and diving teams). If we did not follow the rules the lifeguards made us get out of the pool and sit on the bench for while….until they thought we learned our lesson and were going to behave. There was no running, roughhousing, throwing balls, etc… The problem with children nowadays is the simple fact they aren’t taught respect at home (respect for authority, other people, or themselves). They are not taught there are consequences for their actions….unfortunately some of that is blame is on CPS (Child Protective Services)because they have made the rules so strict that you cannot raise your voice to your children nor spank them on their bottoms for misbehaving (for fear of being hotlined or having them taken from you), like they did when we were growing up. We knew not to get into trouble anywhere for fear of our parents finding out (which they almost always did!). We knew we’d be in a lot more trouble when we got home. I have seen children as young as 5 and 6 telling their parents what they are and are not going to do and the parents do absolutely nothing, which is why they are behaving direspectfully, as they do. Until the parents are willing to make sure they teach their children respect, we will continue having problems with other children when we take our children places.

Oh gosh! The timeout. I NEVER see that at the local pool. I do remember it being imposed by the lifeguards in my younger days.

Our pool has rules about throwing the balls around. Yet, the lifeguards do not enforce it or don’t notice. I’ve been hit twice. Both times, I hurled the ball outside the fence of the pool. Really, they are not supposed to have it and why should I hand it back so they can hit me or someone else in the head again?

I took my daughter and a friend to Maryland Heights AquaPort. I admit that when the two split, I was not watching her friend. These kids know how to swim, so I was not particularly worried, and the lifeguards at AquaPort are well trained and tested. Apparently my daughter’s friend was not following lifeguard directions and they made him take a time-out! Yes, the time-out IS still used at pools.

I thanked the lifeguards.

He did not repeat his mistake, either.

While I agree that today’s children suffer from the lack of firm discipline, whatever the cause may be, its good to know there are places where proper behavior is still enforced.