What would you do?

[zakatak]

Ok, here is the situation: You are at a small water park with your kids. All the benches are taken, so you choose a curb next to a bench and sit down to help your kids take off their shoes (they already changed into their swimsuits in the van). Two of the three go off and while you are helping the little one, a couple with a stroller come over and sit down a the bench directly next to you (even though it has stuff on it from someone else). The father proceeds to strip the boy (5 years old or so) right in front of you, as in you could TOUCH his privates! Ummmm... so you turn your head a bit so as you are not staring! You see the mom take off the girl's diaper (she was maybe 9 months old) and put on her bathing suit with NO swim diaper/plastic pants.

What would you do?

Here's what I did... I get up and mention to the parents that there are changing rooms right over THERE (maybe 10 yards away) to which she responds, "We don't NEED any changing rooms". Ummm... sure, but drop the TUDE! So I head over to the staff to see if it is regulated that babies wear plastic pants or a swim diaper. Sure enough it is. So I tell them about the baby. They head over and hold a discussion with the people (whose baby is now sitting in the same water as my kids!!! ) ewwwwwwww... So, I head over and move my stuff over to another curb WAY away from them. About 15 minutes later she walks over to me, with her hand UP and says, "You are the most UNKIND, NASTY and UPTIGHT person I have ever met in my life". As I tried to explain about ECOLI, she slammed her hand up, and walked away. Oh well... then she kept pointed me out to her dh so I eventually took my kids and left.

Was I wrong? Is it normal to strip your 5 year old within a hands reach from someone's FACE (remember I was sitting down on a curb and he was standing!)? And rules are in place for a reason... my kids can get sick from your kids feces!

Ok... let if fly! I'm tough...

Karen (who completely agrees with the uptight part since I had my kids alone for two days in Toronto all by myself... what was I thinking?)

 

[Steve H.]

I probably would have pointed out the rules about non-potty trained kids needing swim diapers (especially since most, if not all, waterparks and pools will simply sell the family a swim diaper at a nominal charge anyways).

As far as the 5 year old being changed in your face, it would depend on the situation for me, but I probably would have moved somewhere else and ignored them on that one.

 

[binny]

I would have done the same thing you did.

we are our kids' best defense against everything and you were right to stick up for them.

That woman had issues. As did the husband.. why would anyone change their child in front of someone like that? Is modesty completely abandoned??

 

[Rajah]

I think you did right, you uptight person you.

 

[Breezy_Carol]

I agree with you!

While the changing the 5 year old was inappropriate, the lack of a swim diaper is health issue. No different than wearing a seatbelt except this actually affects others.

 

[DoeWDW]

First of all, I find this whole situation bizarre. I think I would have been so stunned that I would have sat there staring with my chin on the ground!!! After I got over the initial shock, I probably would have said something to a lifeguard about the lack of swim diaper on the little girl. I DEFINITELY would have gotten my stuff and moved away from those people!

Of course, later I would have thought up lots of witty comments that I SHOULD HAVE made to the people. I could have looked at the wife and started taking off my clothes and asked her if she minded my nudity in front of her family.....or something equally tactless.....

All in all, I think you did just fine. The problem was with her and her attitude, not what you did.

 

[MICKEY88]

Originally posted by DoeWDW
First of all, I find this whole situation bizarre. I think I would have been so stunned that I would have sat there staring with my chin on the ground!!! After I got over the initial shock, I probably would have said something to a lifeguard about the lack of swim diaper on the little girl. I DEFINITELY would have gotten my stuff and moved away from those people!

Of course, later I would have thought up lots of witty comments that I SHOULD HAVE made to the people. I could have looked at the wife and started taking off my clothes and asked her if she minded my nudity in front of her family.....or something equally tactless.....

All in all, I think you did just fine. The problem was with her and her attitude, not what you did.

how often do you strip in public to make a point...???

 

[peg2001]

I have no problem with changing young children in public but they certainly could have been a bit more discrete about it. As for the baby with no diaper protection, ewww! You did the right thing and I am sorry they made YOU feel in the wrong.

Peggy

 

[zakatak]

OK, whew... cause I was almost in tears the whole drive home thinking she was right! Maybe I was nasty and unkind! (See, I agree with the uptight part). But then I keep thinking about that baby's feces in the water with my kids and I get grossed out...

Thanks.

Karen