Little Kids and peeing in the pool - what would you do?

[ParrotBill]

Last week: 10:15pm, and I am taking an evening dip in the BVC leisure pool, when the evening's peace comes to an end because Stormalong Bay has closed and the families come charging in to the open pool.

One familiy comes through the BVC lobby doors, their kids bursting ahead who come running up and leap into the pool. Yes, yes, I try not to be annoyed at this even though I taught my daughter to (a) never run by a pool and (b) never jump and splash other people especially those who are not your own family.

But then, to my utter astonishment, a 5 year old wearing swimmies is the last to jump in, and upon landing in the water, gets a glassy eyed look and mutters "I'm pee-ing..."

I shake the water out of my ears. Is that what I heard? Then he swims up to his sister, and informs her "I peed!" I start backing to the stairs.

A minute later, he swims up to his (dad?) and PROUDLY informs him he peed in the pool, and he gets a laugh and positive reinforcement for his "naughty deed."

I retreat to the hot tub in disgust. Along with another adult who apparently heard it also.

I start thinking about what's sure to be next.. and rehearsing in my mind... and sure enough, 15 minutes later, that 5 year old climbs out of the pool and starts charging toward the hot tub with (grandpa?) behind him.

"HOLD UP THERE" I say loud enough to get his attention and pointing to him. "I HEARD YOU SAY YOU PEED IN THE POOL. THERE IS NO PEEING IN THIS POOL. IT IS NOT ALLOWED." I am referring to the hot tub of course.

Grandpa catches up. "Is that true?" he asks the kid. Kid shakes head. I add "I heard you say it THREE TIMES." The other adult kicks in - "I heard it too" she says. I am glad she backs me up, because I was expecting a fight.

Kid starts crying. Grandpa says "I am sure it's a mistake" and they both walk back to their table and chairs. A few minutes later, to his credit, he comes back and apologizes for the 5 year old's behavior.

I hate to be the killjoy, but once I was at Boardwalk when they had to close the main pool for 24 hours covering prime time of two days because of a kid who was not potty trained. And frankly, I find peeing in the pool disgusting, even though it is probably not a sanitary danger.

Do families really condone this? Or would you have spoken up too?

 

[Mousemommy1]

I think you handled it well.

I would never condone this behavior for my children. Disgusting!

 

[trishadono]

Last week: 10:15pm, and I am taking an evening dip in the BVC leisure pool, when the evening's peace comes to an end because Stormalong Bay has closed and the families come charging in to the open pool.

One familiy comes through the BVC lobby doors, their kids bursting ahead who come running up and leap into the pool. Yes, yes, I try not to be annoyed at this even though I taught my daughter to (a) never run by a pool and (b) never jump and splash other people especially those who are not your own family.

But then, to my utter astonishment, a 5 year old wearing swimmies is the last to jump in, and upon landing in the water, gets a glassy eyed look and mutters "I'm pee-ing..."

I shake the water out of my ears. Is that what I heard? Then he swims up to his sister, and informs her "I peed!" I start backing to the stairs.

A minute later, he swims up to his (dad?) and PROUDLY informs him he peed in the pool, and he gets a laugh and positive reinforcement for his "naughty deed."

I retreat to the hot tub in disgust. Along with another adult who apparently heard it also.

I start thinking about what's sure to be next.. and rehearsing in my mind... and sure enough, 15 minutes later, that 5 year old climbs out of the pool and starts charging toward the hot tub with (grandpa?) behind him.

"HOLD UP THERE" I say loud enough to get his attention and pointing to him. "I HEARD YOU SAY YOU PEED IN THE POOL. THERE IS NO PEEING IN THIS POOL. IT IS NOT ALLOWED." I am referring to the hot tub of course.

Grandpa catches up. "Is that true?" he asks the kid. Kid shakes head. I add "I heard you say it THREE TIMES." The other adult kicks in - "I heard it too" she says. I am glad she backs me up, because I was expecting a fight.

Kid starts crying. Grandpa says "I am sure it's a mistake" and they both walk back to their table and chairs. A few minutes later, to his credit, he comes back and apologizes for the 5 year old's behavior.

I hate to be the killjoy, but once I was at Boardwalk when they had to close the main pool for 24 hours covering prime time of two days because of a kid who was not potty trained. And frankly, I find peeing in the pool disgusting, even though it is probably not a sanitary danger.

Do families really condone this? Or would you have spoken up too?

I would have spoken up too! Other people need to remember that this is other peoples vacations too.

I did have some kids splash near me one day. I addressed the kids directly. I asked them nicely not to splash near me that it was going home day and I did not have time to redo my hair. They apologized for splashing and I spent the next 20 minutes with my new friends Most people are good about reminders.

 

[catra121]

I think you handled it well. You didn't cause a scene when it first happened...it was done and nothing you could do about it...but you spoke up when there was a chance they could have done it AGAIN to protect not only your enjoyment but that of another guest too.

I'm sorry if the kids felt bad...but when you do something bad then you do need to be called out on it...especially when it affects other people. Shame on her parents for not addressing it when it first happened.

 

[Mayhem1976]

I think that you handled it well. If my son proudly said he peed in the pool, I wouldn't be very happy. WIth that said though....swim diapers don't actually hold pee, so there are lots of kids peeing in the pool!

Of course if there are hundreds of people peeing in the pool , they may need more chlorine etc, which can irratate etc....it's also the reason for showering before going in the pool.

 

[wiigirl]

I really think you handled it perfectly....better than I would.

 

[cobright]

By the end of the day that pool has more pee in it than water. Judging by how few people take a real shower before getting into the pool I would gues that whatever part of that pool isn't filled with pee is filled with sweat (used gatorade is a fair term for both elements).

That said, it's a behavioral issue. My favorite approach is to put on my best Foster Brooks impression and stagger up to the parent, then suggest to them that nobody would think it was cute if I peed in the pool so ... how about a little fair play here.

 

[BigAlsGal]

There is LOTS of peeing in the pools. It is essentially a giant toilet. I mean think of all the buttcrack sweat that is in there!!! Some sterile urine is the least of my worries.

 

[mumzie2three]

You do know that there are adults that pee in the pool too? They just aren't as open about it as a 5 year old can be. You also have to take into account the personal hygeine of others, children and adults.

I took someone else's suggestion and now I bring test strips, so I know if there is enough chlorine in the pool/hot tub and I won't get in if there is too little (or too much).

 

[OrganizedDis]

You may want to avoid public pools if it is so disgusting to you because kids commonly pee in pools and even some adults do as well. I'm sure you never peed in a pool when you were young right? I don't agree with praising a child for doing so but I also don't believe in parenting other peoples children either. I think I would speak to a life guard to have rules enforced rather then speaking to a child or the grandfather who was not there at the time of the incident

 

[IntoTheLight]

Not so much peeing, but it drives me CRAZY when people send their babies and toddlers into the pool with a regular diaper on. I bring a full pack of swim diapers every time I'm at a public pool or water park and give out at least 5. I've seen so many of those disgusting gel globs leak out of diapers, if I'm swimming and got one in my mouth I would toss my cookies.

Pee? Well, I'm just assuming half the pool is pee at any given time, but do we think our water is that free of it? Unlikely.

 

[OurBigTrip]

You may want to avoid public pools if it is so disgusting to you because kids commonly pee in pools and even some adults do as well. I'm sure you never peed in a pool when you were young right? I don't agree with praising a child for doing so but I also don't believe in parenting other peoples children either. I think I would speak to a life guard to have rules enforced rather then speaking to a child or the grandfather who was not there at the time of the incident

This - well said.

 

[tiger4me2]

I agree with what you did. Though it is done too many times. Plus the 5 year kid shouldn't be in a hot tub not good for their body. I am sure others kids & adults do pee in the pools and gawd know what else

I guess some think it is okay but this is one reason along with other reasons I won't use a public pool no matter whose it is....MHO

 

[OurBigTrip]

I agree with what you did. Though it is done too many times. Plus the 5 year kid shouldn't be in a hot tub not good for their body. I am sure others kids & adults do pee in the pools and gawd know what else

I guess some think it is okay but this is one reason along with other reasons I won't use a public pool no matter whose it is....MHO

For the record, no, I don't think it's OK for kids (or adults) to pee in pools.

But I also would never talk that way to someone else's child. If I were that bothered by it, I would have said something to the parent or grandparent, quietly, and without embarrassing the child.

I personally don't find it laudable to publicly humiliate a small child, but again, JMO.

 

[cobright]

How far away from the pool was the kid when he peed in the pool? If he was actually IN the water ... that's pretty rooky.

 

[RunningWithScissors]

I think you handled it fine. I would have probably said something similar, in a joking, nice sounding voice.

Unfortunately, not all people teach their children general manners in public. Yes, these types of people irritate me, but there is nothing I can do about it as it is not my business.

That kid admitted what he did but I bet the other 500 who swam in that same pool that day did not.

 

[Letsbgoofy]

As someone who works with young children (and by that I mean with their parents) I give your response a 10. By congratulating the child for peeing in the pool, that parent just taught their child that not only is it okay to do something disgusting, but that it's also okay to do something that you know is wrong. By telling that child that it is not okay (and would having talking to the parent quietly as suggested by another poster have worked when you already saw the parent's response to the behavior?) you at least gave the child the correct response to urinating in a public pool.

As to the comments that you should avoid public pools if you don't like urine in the water...is that really the solution?? Maybe it would be better if we acted like responsible humans and taught our children to do the same.

 

[mom to minnie&mickey]

While I think that we are all aware that kids and even some adults do pee in the pools we don't usually think about it as we are swimming on a hot day. To have it announced out loud that the kid is peeing right now, beside me in the water would gross me out big time. Mentally, there is a difference, at least for me so I totally understand and sympathize with you op. That being said, since the kid had already peed in the pool he was probably a safe bet for the hot tub (even though he should not have been there).

When you say he shook his head when confronted by you, do you mean he lied? If so, he had only himself to blame for crying because he got caught.

 

[bobbie68]

Hi OP,

Bravo to you for handling the way you did. I absolutely would have done the same thing. In addition to this I would have went and told the front desk also.

I am sorry but parents need to watch their children in a public place.

FYI I do have a child and I would expect anybody at any time to come to me and tell me if my child misbehaved in an inappropriate way. My child would be reprimanded for their behavior.

Have a great day!

 

[samnbilly]

Also, urine isn't sterile. It's sterile in the bladder, but once it passes thru the urethra, it's contaminated. That's why we use a catheter to get a sterile specimen & other sanitary practices to get a clean catch urine.
I love Disney.. That being said, sometimes you see the best & worst of parenting (or lack thereof)
I think it was good to speak up. I would've just gotten out of the jacuzzi & have been annoyed..