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

[OurBigTrip]

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!

I agree - I would expect anyone at any time to come to me and tell me if my child misbehaved or acted in an inappropriate way.

What I wouldn't expect and wouldn't accept without comment would be someone, other than a lifeguard or similar, castigating my child. While I certainly would have dealt with the situation with my child, the OP would have gotten an earful from me in this situation.

 

[kim_d]

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.

ITA! Maybe it was my years as a competitive swimmer, lifeguard and swim coach but urine in the pool is a non-issue to me. I swim in the ocean and that is the toilet for all sea creatures, so children peeing in the pool doesn't bother me.

Eta: I don't condone the behavior and my children use the restroom at the pool so I'm confident that don't use the pool as a toilet. I just wouldn't have said anything to the child or family.

 

[Granny square]

Pools don't get closed for 24 hours because of non potty trained children. You pretty much clean and shock it.

 

[samnbilly]

Pools don't get closed for 24 hours because of non potty trained children. You pretty much clean and shock it.

You're right-they don't get closed for urine, but I've been to our local YMCA many times to swim & it gets closed because of kids pooping in the pool-Fun!

 

[Granny square]

You're right-they don't get closed for urine, but I've been to our local YMCA many times to swim & it gets closed because of kids pooping in the pool-Fun!

They close it to clean. The op said the pool was closed for 24 hours.

My son is a current y lifeguard.

 

[OurBigTrip]

They close it to clean. The op said the pool was closed for 24 hours.

My son is a current y lifeguard.

The OP didn't say it was closed for 24 hours this time, she said that happened previously when a child wasn't potty trained, which doesn't necessarily mean just urine.

My daughter is a lifeguard at a community pool, and they don't close and clean for urine.

 

[Granny square]

The OP didn't say it was closed for 24 hours this time, she said that happened previously when a child wasn't potty trained, which doesn't necessarily mean just urine.

My daughter is a lifeguard at a community pool, and they don't close and clean for urine.

I realise that.

Kid poops in pool scoop, sanitize and shock. Short closure for the process. Lol it isn't like caddyshack

Diarhea which might or might not occur to lack of potty retraining. A bit more involved.

 

[ParrotBill]

Thanks for all the comments!

To answer the questions -

- Yes, the child was in the pool when he peed
- I judged that talking to the parents would not take care of it since the father condoned it
- the child was again barreling at us and was about to jump in again and I judged I had to stop him in his tracks - I was careful not to criticize overtly, but to repeat what I heard him say and to make it clear that was not allowed in the hot tub while we were there
- No lifeguard on duty
- No reason to go talk to the front desk... it was after 10:30pm by now.. and not looking to make an even bigger scene out of it
- The child lied by shaking his head when I said "I heard you say you peed in the pool - did you do that?" So I was ready with the second point that I heard him say it 3 times - at that point, I should add that I was looking at Grandpa
- I was glad Grandpa did not see it as acceptable
- yes the BW pool was closed to sanitize it for 24 hrs for poop not urine

And I want to add a somewhat amazing followup - the next day I figured out that the family were guests of the Yacht Club, not the Beach Club... go pee in your own pool! (LOL)

 

[wyurm]

5 year olds peeing in pools should be the least of your concerns. I would estimate that (unscientifically of course) 75% of people pee in the pool. I would be more concerned about poop and blood. I was at a Six Flags water park wave pool and saw a woman tending to her child's nosebleed. To their credit, about 5 seconds after I noticed it, the lifeguard closed the wave pool. Pee is sterile and while it does seem gross it's not worth worrying about in my humble opinion.

 

[catra121]

I agree - I would expect anyone at any time to come to me and tell me if my child misbehaved or acted in an inappropriate way.

What I wouldn't expect and wouldn't accept without comment would be someone, other than a lifeguard or similar, castigating my child. While I certainly would have dealt with the situation with my child, the OP would have gotten an earful from me in this situation.

No offense...but where do you draw the line on this?

OP didn't yell at the child when it happened...just left the pool. It was only when the child went to the area where they were AFTER that that the comment was made that there was no peeing in THIS pool (hot tub) and that it was not allowed. No screaming or yelling...just stating a fact.

I see kids all the time where I work vandalizing store property. Writing on merchandise with markers, opening packages, damaging merchandise, deliberately breaking things, etc. I cannot say anything to them because of parents who would "lose it" if I DARED to tell their child what they can and cannot do. That is horrible and it makes me sick.

Furthermore...I have a medical condition that makes it very painful to be bumped or jostled. Last time at Disney I was sitting to watch the fireworks in my walker. A family came and sat behind us for the show. Their son continued to KICK my walker constantly, even after I asked him to please stop (no yelling or making a scene...just asking). This caused an incredible amount of pain that I couldn't wish on anyone...it was a very slow, painful walk back to the bus. I understand the risks going into the park...but for the parents to do NOTHING about this except give ME dirty looks...that is just bad parenting. I see it all the time and while I cannot blame kids for being kids...I can blame parents for not showing better parenting skills especially when it is at the expense of others. I'm sorry if that makes your kid "sad" or makes them feel guilty when they do something wrong...oh wait...no I'm not. If a child misbehaves they should feel guilty...especially when it causes discomfort to someone else.

If you do not teach your kids to be respectful of others...they're just going to grow up to be jerks. And if you personally feel offended because someone steps in and calls your kids on their BS...doing YOUR job...then I really don't care. As long as the person is not aggressive with your child, scares them, yells at them, etc...then what is the problem? Why does it matter if it was a CM, lifeguard, or another guest? I know where I work that I CAN'T say stuff like this to kids or their parents...I love it when other customers do though.

 

[tiger4me2]

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.

Find but would you not say something to kid that could get hit by a car or something because you wouldn't want to tell the kid not to move etc? Everyone has their reasons to say something. I don't think the op was humiliate the child just correcting him. If no one say anything the child thinks it is okay to do anything he want. MHO as well I just express how I feel like everyone else did..

 

[OurBigTrip]

Find but would you not say something to kid that could get hit by a car or something because you wouldn't want to tell the kid not to move etc? Everyone has their reasons to say something. I don't think the op was humiliate the child just correcting him. If no one say anything the child thinks it is okay to do anything he want. MHO as well I just express how I feel like everyone else did..

Saying something to someone else's child to prevent injury or death is one thing, and can't be compared to correcting the behavior of someone else's child just to embarrass them.

Bottom line, it isn't up to me to correct someone else's child just because I don't like the behavior, nor is it up to someone else to correct my child's behavior.

 

[Rosanne]

Saying something to someone else's child to prevent injury or death is one thing, and can't be compared to correcting the behavior of someone else's child just to embarrass them.

Bottom line, it isn't up to me to correct someone else's child just because I don't like the behavior, nor is it up to someone else to correct my child's behavior.

Well, if someone else's child pees in their own personal pool I would not correct their behavior. If they have just proudly announced that they have peed in the shared pool where my body is and the parent is giving it the green light then what the OP did is perfectly reasonable.

Really. Who "likes" the behavior of someone intentionally and proudly peeing in a public pool? Realizing it happens isn't the same thing as thinking it should happen. Gross.

 

[OurBigTrip]

Well, if someone else's child pees in their own personal pool I would not correct their behavior. If they have just proudly announced that they have peed in the shared pool where my body is and the parent is giving it the green light then what the OP did is perfectly reasonable.

Really. Who "likes" the behavior of someone intentionally and proudly peeing in a public pool? Realizing it happens isn't the same thing as thinking it should happen. Gross.

As I said previously, if you don't like something my child is doing, you should absolutely bring it to my attention. What you shouldn't do is correct my child, since doing so is way out of line, IMO.

I think that a 4 or 5 year old that is crying and wailing because they lost their lovey is over the top obnoxious, so when I see that behavior, is it OK for me to "correct" that child? Obviously not. Same situation here.

 

[maxiesmom]

As I said previously, if you don't like something my child is doing, you should absolutely bring it to my attention. What you shouldn't do is correct my child, since doing so is way out of line, IMO.

I think that a 4 or 5 year old that is crying and wailing because they lost their lovey is over the top obnoxious, so when I see that behavior, is it OK for me to "correct" that child? Obviously not. Same situation here.

I don't think it is the same situation at all! Someone crying because they lost their toy is understandable, and has no real physical affect on anyone else. Some peeing in the pool is not acceptable, and does physically affect everyone else in that pool.

And in case you missed it, the parent seemed to think peeing in the pool was just fine and dandy! There was no help to be had by going that route.

 

[OurBigTrip]

I don't think it is the same situation at all! Someone crying because they lost their toy is understandable, and has no real physical affect on anyone else. Some peeing in the pool is not acceptable, and does physically affect everyone else in that pool.

And in case you missed it, the parent seemed to think peeing in the pool was just fine and dandy! There was no help to be had by going that route.

Peeing in the pool, while gross, doesn't physically affect anyone. If it did, we would all be dead by now.

My point is, that IMO, no one has the right to correct someone else's child just because they don't like the behavior. Crying over a stuffed animal, throwing a tantrum because mom won't buy the candy you want, running around the restaurant like a wild animal, throwing food, peeing in the pool - all obnoxious. But none of it gives me the right to correct the child exhibiting those behaviors.

 

[jimmysmom74]

My DS is the exact opposite. We were in a lake swimming at a sandbar, when the urge came to go. He said, we have to go back to the house, I have to pee. My cousin told him you can just go in the water, it's a lake. My DS was like, That is disgusting, I'm not swimming in a toilet!!! My nephew said, we do it all the time. My DS said, you all are yucky, I'll hold it till we get back to the house. Moral of my story, we are there in Nov, and DS(6) will definitely not be peeing in the pool.

 

[mefordis]

Anyone ever been on a cruise ship and notice about 10 adults in the hot tub, all day long. They never seem to leave because they are afraid of losing their spot. I wonder what that water is like.

 

[alc571]

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.

This is why we all shower when we get out of the pool! LOL

OP, I think you handled it well. I wouldn't have been so quiet when I heard him proclaim it the first time.

 

[Jennasis]

Peeing in the pool, while gross, doesn't physically affect anyone. If it did, we would all be dead by now.

My point is, that IMO, no one has the right to correct someone else's child just because they don't like the behavior. Crying over a stuffed animal, throwing a tantrum because mom won't buy the candy you want, running around the restaurant like a wild animal, throwing food, peeing in the pool - all obnoxious. But none of it gives me the right to correct the child exhibiting those behaviors.

Just so you know, I wouldn't say something to the child, I would absolutely correct the clueless parents allowing it.