Things are going swimmingly except for a heat wave. It’s cooler than back home in our Arizona desert, but it’s too hot to hike in the afternoon.
We visited the same week of July in the summer of 2020. In the afternoons, when my husband was done working, we would hike on trails that wind through the ski slopes.
This year, we’re doing a morning walk to Main Street along a tree-lined path with a bubbling creek. We did the same walk in the 2020 mornings, too. This year, the morning walk is the highlight of my day, because the afternoons are too hot for the mountain hikes.
Instead of sitting inside reading or watching TV, we’re hitting the pool to cool off.
Yesterday afternoon, the pool was filled with several groups of families and kids. I found a spot along one wall where I could swim. I watched two sisters in the deep end throwing a ring and diving after it. The older sister, a teen, got out when she saw me attempting to swim laps.
“Who am I going to play with?” little sister complained.
“That woman is swimming,” the teen explained.
I thought, “I’m swimming on one edge of the pool. They have most of the deep end to continue tossing the ring and diving.”
My husband decided to sit on the steps. I plowed on determined to get my exercise.
“Little sister” would do a backward somersault right in front of me every time I reached the deep end to turn. I had to swim around her. Next, a nine-year-old boy named Oscar would cut in front of me across the pool swimming as fast as he could. It seemed to be a game for him to push off across the pool and barely miss me.
“Why won’t you join me and swim?” I asked my husband.
“I don’t have the patience you have,” he explained. “I’d end up saying something and look like an asshole to the kids.”
I finally gave up after about 20 laps of dodging little sister and Oscar. We headed to the jacuzzi. Strangely, as soon as we got out of the pool, the kids did too. I guess I was their entertainment. They weren’t having much fun without harassing the middle-aged woman who was trying to swim laps.
I think if I was “little sister’s” mom, I would have asked her to swim and play away from the lap swimmer. The mom and dad were on chaise lounges relaxing. They didn’t say a word.
What would you have done if you were the parent? If you were trying to swim laps, would you have continued like me or not try like my husband and let the kids play?
Showing basic courtesy should come naturally to people, but unfortunately nowadays it doesn’t.
I agree. I also think the parents who were there could assist in teaching their kids.
Very true. They are preparing a self-centered generation.
While there behavior was rude, I probably would have let them be. I definitely would not expect them to stay in the deep end. Should the parents have said something? Yes. But remember, these kids are going to give them a lot of grief in the coming years so they will get payback…
You are probably correct. The kids were playing in the deep end. I was trying to swim laps taking up less than three feet of space next to the wall. My husband felt like he shouldn’t try to swim at all. As a parent I think I would have suggested they stay out of the lap swimmer’s way.
I totally would have told my daughter to be respectful, but those parents would say I was a helicopter and not alllowing my give to fully realize their potential and I was inhibiting her spirit…😆
Ha! How else do our kids learn manners?
I had an experience yesterday that I’m going to eventually blog about…two people, one youngish one my age, who just irked me. Some never learn manners
I can’t wait to read it!
If the kids are old enough to be in a pool alone (not needing to have parental support to stay afloat) then I think they should be taught/show courtesy for others. If the entire pool was open save for the 3 of you then those kids could easily have moved and allowed you to have your lane.
There was plenty of room. There was a young family playing in the shallow end was all. The little sister was intentionally getting in front of me and doing somersaults. She’d wait for me! I agree with you that they were old enough to show courtesy.
Children are often a mirror of their parents…
Interesting thought.
I would have loudly told the turds to let me have my swim, and then dared the parents to intervene. But I am an asshole with no patience.
You have more nerve than I do!
When I heard the older sister tell the younger sister that “that lady is swimming” I might have said something like, “Thank you. Let me get in 10 (or 15 or however many) laps and then you can get back to your game,” or “That’s okay, you can keep playing, I just need this little space right here,” that way you are acknowledging the good manners of the teen and letting the little sister know it’s not going to be forever. Although truthfully, I probably wouldn’t be doing laps if I was on vacation in the first place – LOL
That was a great suggestion. I wish I would have thought of it! I like to swim and I was feeling cooped up in the heat. Although it’s hotter where we live, there’s no AC in the place we’re staying!
Your husband did know his limits. I would also not be doing laps on vacation!!
My husband said he was watching the entire scenario and the little sister was trying to punish me or make me quit — because I ruined her fun with her older sister. I do like to swim and there was really not much else to do in the heat.
It is like high school all over again!
I’m glad you asked lol I’m more like husband. In fact, what I’d do is ask the parents to ask their children to get out of my way, politely, of course, but with a hint of “I’m trying not to cuss you out” lol
I like that! You made me laugh.
🤣
I don’t blame the kids, I blame the parents. Kids are kids. Parents though need to be watching to make sure their kids are not getting in the way of others. I never wanted my kids to be getting in the way of others who might be using the pool, or trail, or track for other reasons. I have the same issues with pet owners who let their dogs off a leash. I love dogs, but I don’t know the dog, how do I know the dog is not going to take a bite out of me. Good luck on your next swim.
Thank you. It wasn’t the worst experience, but annoying. I continued on with my laps. I’m always shocked when kids misbehave right in front of their parents, and the parents do nothing. We’re at high altitude in Park City and my swims are much shorter than in Scottsdale.
I would’ve done like your husband. But the kids parents should have said something to the kids. They probably weren’t paying attention.
I think the kids parents should have said something too.
I hope I would have done what you thought of later but I probably would have done what you actually did or even more likely just kept coming back to hopefully find fewer or at least more considerate or sedentary people in the pool thus allowing a lane, even if only temporary.
I wanted to get my swim in and I was sure the kids would get tired of harassing me.