Kids Behavior at the Pool!

No, surprisingly I didn't. I can see where you got the idea. I registered because I've been meaning to do that for ages. I finally got around to it today. I saw this post when browsing for the first time and was shocked at A) the coincidence and B) what Zakmama was saying.

did you really register on QL 10 minutes ago specifically just to post in this thread?

Wowza I guess you must be a very good friend of the lady who got splashed :o)

She's lucky to have such a buddy.

I was there for this event if I remember correctly. I know that these people do live in the compound. The girl goes to school with my son and daughter but is 1 grade ahead.

Zakmama: You seem like an incredibly rude woman who has raised her children the same. The woman simply asked you to keep the water out of her sstuff. That seems like a very reasonable request to me. Your children were wild!!! They were simply sitting there. I hope you learn to control your kids someday, if not for your good then for theirs.

Ahhh, no...as I said, I don't like most children...but hey that's me!

Sorry to hear...The restaurant at the Four Seasons has a separate area for kids where they can be a little bit lauder, leaving the adults eat in peace. I´m surprised the staff didn´t do anything about it.

you are right when you say that some parents don´t realise when their kids are being a nuisance to others or aren´t bothered with disciplining them. I feel sorry for these children too, No discipline is just as abusive as too much discipline. I can´t believe the response of the parents...how can they teach respect and consideration when they cannot lead by example???

Personally, I find that working outside the house and having other iterests apart from parenting (which is, nevertheless, my priority right now) does not only help to put things into perspective but its the only way to stay sane when taking care of small children!!!

Just out of curiosity...Do you refer to your own child as Little Johny fart pants too?

I hear you...you adore your child...so you should...you need to understand that NOT everyone likes children...I don't like them, besides my own. It becomes an obsession with so many mothers, and I have seen how mothers turn out in the long run...NUTTY...because their whole life becomes their children’s and they lose perspective.

An example is when I went to a 5 star hotel (this was the 1st time in 4 months) where I was hoping for some down time with my husband after working like a dog. There were 3 kids running a muck, and the parents just let them be...

“ Nothing brings more joy than hearing a child happiness.”

This kind of doesn’t apply when you’re paying 700QR for a pleasant evening out after a long week and all you see is kids running a riot because their parents think it’s cute listening to little Johnny fart pants running a muck...too bad for the rest of us ha? Oh and the parents say, if you don’t like it go elsewhere....hmmm I'm at the 4 seasons, where else am I meant to go for some peace and quiet???

I see...Well, it gets in my nervs to be interrupted by a child (even my own) when I´m talking to someone. So I guess, that say applies for some cases...

One thing is to teach a child not to interrupt or be always loud, another is to suggest that he should not be heard at all!

How could you POSSIBLY think I'm a bully???? When I was growing up in the early 1950s it was what my mother used to say to me if she thought I was being a bit cheeky or annoying or trying to interrupt adults when they were conversing. I have to say here, also, that my mother was 40 years old when I came along so her attitude would have been more Victorian than other parents of my peers.

My mother was never a bully (and neither am I for that matter) it's just a Victorian expression. Having said that I do think there are times when it's not a bad criteria to follow!

Sorry if you misunderstood my meaning.

we we're all kids once so nothing we say will change anything cuz that's just the way the cookie crumbles I guess.

Well Scorpio because some parents seem to think that their children are little angels that are always cute and never annoying even when they're yelling and screaming. I love well behaved children but go mad with spoiled kids that seem to have control over their parents.

I know what you mean...I adore my own child but don't like other kids...never have...that's why I try my hardest so my child doesn't annoy others when we are out.

I understand there is a balance, kids will be kids, etc. but some parents let their kids run a riot and think that adulst should have to put up with it...why?

Especially when their mute.

I agree. Neither attitude is nice.

I hate being splashed in the pool, but I am aware that kids, when playing, may not realise about others around, so I move away when kids are playing rough in the pool. But maybe be that´s just me and my common sense.

On the other hand, I don´t understand why Zakmama didn´t get their kids to understand the need for being considerate to others. Having worked with children in several occasions, I know how important it is to tell them (on the spot) when a certain behaviour is not acceptable, even a small child can understand a simple explanation and apologise accordingly to the victim.

As for tantrums I think they should be ignored, even in public places! . There is nothing worse than paying attention to a child in the middle of a screaming fit. While a tantrum in a one y/o is an important part of their development and he is not being "bad", a tantrum in a child older than three means that he has learnt to manipulate their parents to get his own way (ie, I don´t like being here, If I throw a tantrum I will get back home).

"children should be seen but not heard". What a bully statement. I feel sorry for anyone who thinks that way. Nothing brings more joy than hearing a child happiness.

zakmama you sound like one of those parents who think their children are angels and no matter what they do, are always in the right. Have some respect towards adults who don't find it cute or funny when your little Johnny fart pants is running a muck. I have a child and would never let them behave in this manner, because I realize that not everyone likes kids, and why should they??? It is their right isn't it?..oh and warning the compound about her is just spiteful and evil...

Simple solution - the lady who had contact lenses shud choose a time when no one is around or move away. Sure the pool area is big enough to move instead of coming down to the level of kids and quarelling with them/their parents.

As for the lady with big bucks to fly business class, buy your own private pool with that cash instead!

Neither attitude was nice..........labourers are camping in miserable circumstances 20 to a room and have to get along, while neighbours cannot even have a peacefull evening together by the pool :(

but I take ur point. Hopefully they'll have better tales to tell from Qatar. Too much strawberry + vodka, so goodnight from me...

Could be tricky...

Now that's a story to tell ur grandkids...I remember 40 years ago when ur grandma was trying to breafeed ur mom/dad and ended up soaking a newspaper LOL!

oh - I started, but couldn't finish and preview meant I had to post this when I really wanted to just cancel!

I fly a lot for work, so upfront is normal for me. It was, however, my wife's first time in the pointy end. She was horrified, and the woman was really rude. Her newspaper was, umm, soaked. The staff were fabulous, and that is about the only good thing I have to say about Qantas. I still laugh about it, and my wife still goes red. Not something we talk about a lot...Can't wait for her to get here next month...

Could be tricky...

Damnit why didn't any "misfiring" happen on my flights? That would've been hilarious!

hey I'm older than you lot by MILES and grew up in a 'children should be seen and not heard' era.

what more can I say ....

I tend to over compensate for other peoples feelings when swimming, flying, or generally doing anything, with my kids in public. Kids dont always behave, but i dont want others looking at my children and thinking " good lord these two are the spawn of satan".lol

My little girl is 3 and tantrums are infrequent but ear piercing once commenced. I simply take her home. ( except when on an a plane, she cant parachute so its difficult!) Sometimes you cant reason with a 3 year old screaming banshee, but you can remove the problem.

As for the disagreement between Zak and Aquilla. Zak lost my respect whilst proudly proclaiming, " we are flying home next week, Business Class, hope to not see you on our flight or at our pool again! I have told others in my compound about you, so we know you are out there! Including the staff of our compound!

If she had added " i think your mum smells", it could have actually been written by my 3 yr old daughter.[img_assist|nid=17864|title=Chicks dig Guys with skills|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=440|height=440]

I'm well into my second bottle, but. My kids are 9 & 7, and we simply teach them to be considerate of others. 'How would you like it if your stuff got wet' we ask them. As for the plane thing, my guys have been everywhere, generally at the front. Again, the same lesson. Apart from one mortifying incident when my breastfeeding wife 'misfired', it's all been good. There are few people in the world that can't look at a kid throwing a tantrum and say 'been there done that...'. We've all had it happen, and everyone knows we all cope as best we can. It's the WAGS that ignore their screaming kids that p*ss me off...

... we were actually swimming for exercise in the deep end when I asked her if she could get her children to be a bit more careful as we both wear lenses (incidentally my daughter is only twelve and is still getting used to them). Her children had chosen a 'spot' right on top of us to have their fun and I suggested to the mum that there was lots more space in the pool. Her response was lukewarm. When it made little difference my daughter and I left the pool to sit out on the loungers. It was when water started to fly over and land in my bag and all over my book that I told her that was enough. You know the rest.

Thank you for all the understanding comments.

zakmama complains why shouldn't her children be allowed to enjoy the pool?

An adult resident of the compound might similarly wonder why they shouldn't be allowed to enjoy the pool, without having water kicked and splashed over their things by unruly and inconsiderate children?

There is a conflict of 'rights' here.

It seems, from aquilla's response that she and teenager were respecting the 'right' of the children to make lots of noise and have lots of fun, because what they objected to was the lack of consideration of the children concerned who were splashing them outside the pool, i.e. by the poolside.

It sounds as though aquilla and the teenager behaved reasonably, but zakmama wants to assert her children's 'rights' to be disrespectful and inconsiderate. Not surprising, considering the example their mother is setting them, i.e. rudely and selfishly telling other people to leave a shared community facility. That's terribly bad mannered, and a terrible example to set to the children.

i had my contact lens too gypsy ... and i keep loosing them in the pool. THats i leave swimming business for my husband.

but i agree get splashed by a bit of water will not make my contact lens pop out :-)

Just out of curiosity what does wearing contacts have to do with anything? I wear mine in the pool and have never had a problem with them falling out, surly a drop of water from a kid won't do anything.

"I fight with love and I laugh with rage, you have to live light enough to see the humor and long enough to see some change." Ani Difranco

Next time I see a woman throwing herself to the floor and screaming like a nutter and kicking and punching because she got splashed in the pool by a kid, I´ll know it´s you...:P

But as I say, you cannot expect a child to behave like an adult would. I can be fed up with something, but certainly I can deal with the frustration in ways other than screaming and kicking and throwing myself to the floor.

I am sympathetic to parents who can find themselves in uncomfortable situations with their children and would not rush to judge them.

Back to the topic, I agree that you should encourage your children to be considerate to others, espacially by example. But sometimes, it seems that adults are way too impatient or not understanding with children.

I feel for you on that one.

I don't have children and going back to the thread I'm afraid I have little patience with parents who seem not to notice if their child is being a nuisance to others.

Very often the parents are just used to how the child behaves and don't realise that not everyone is as enamoured with or amused at the antics of their little darling as they are.

Not suggesting one or the other of the ladies in this thread were right or wrong - just an observation.

for those who have kids. They sleep all the way, meaning that parents get some sleep too, and everyone else around...

Mind you, last time I flew with my little one, she slept all the way during the night, then in the morning we had to stay in the airport for a few hours and then catch another(shorter) flight. No problems in the airport, but when we got into the plane she had a masive tantrum (something like I never seen before, I believe the exhaustion of travelling got too much for her!) and refused to sit in her seat, she just threw herself on the floor kicking and screaming all the way! I hardly managed to restrain her for take off and landing. So, for those who can´t stand kids noise, best to sit at the end of the plane, economy, small kids are most likely to be seated in the first rows.

In those days it flew from Singapore via Bahrain to London.

We were leaving Jeddah and my husband had said he would up-grade our flight to first class. Over a glass or two of my illegal home-made wine (shhhhh) I said why not Concorde? He said OK and, although he tried to renege on this, I held him to it.

I'm so glad I did, 'cos I KNEW I may never get another opportunity, let alone that they would cut it altogether!

It was ab-so-lutely amazing !!! Very narrow, but china crockery and real champagne glasses and when it went supersonic ... wowza! I looked out of the window and saw all these little boats on the ocean beneath, then realised I was looking at other aircraft on the clouds below! hahaha

Eat yer hearts out ladies ;o)

Maybe Richard Branson will get his way and resurrect it. It's the cost and/or availability of the parts which is the stumbling block I think.

We were living in Jeddah and went to Bahrain en route home to UK (this was around 1980). We had friends in Bahrain and had been invited to a party.

There was a British Airways employee there who was continually on my back about being a 'poor relation' cos I lived in Jeddah. He went on and on and on about how bad my life must be there compared to his life in Bahrain.

I kept my cool until eventually he said, 'by the way, which flight are you on tomorrow'. 2 p.m. I replied.

It took him a minute or so before it dawned on him it was the time of the Concorde flight.

He spent the rest of the evening eating humble pie!

What has Business Class got to do with anything zakmama?

LOL at "5 star hotels", "Business Class" etc

The lady who asked not to be splashed seems reasonable. Your posts read differently.

Ahh the pleasures of living next door to people...this is like the Stedford Wives or was it the Truman Show?

Good to hear the views of many! Just to clarify they were not splashing you on purpose! Get over yourself! They were having fun! This is what kids do! When they are indoors all day because of the heat they need to be able to have some fun! There are about 100 kids at this compound of all ages, so if you think my two were ill mannered, do not come back in September when the rest of them return home! You have seen nothing yet! This is reality! They know not to splash others, but they were not doing that to you! They were jumping and diving in the water! It is called playing in the pool!!!! FYI, we are flying home next week, Business Class, hope to not see you on our flight or at our pool again! I have told others in my compound about you, so we know you are out there! Including the staff of our compound! By the way, you don't even live here! Why are you using our facilities?

nothing pisses me off more than an adult thinking that a child is not entitled to be a child and expect them to behave as an adult would...

Yet it is our responsability to tell our children to care for others too. Don´t punish, just explain why they shoul be more careful... Sure, chances are that they will forget it within minutes, and you will have to remind them again and again... but eventually they will learn to be considerate to others as they grow.

And it is up to us, parents, to make sure that they grow to be respectful adults.

heck breaks loose...I always had my kids refrain from screeching as that always drove me nuts, and also keep the amount of water at least somewhere NEAR to being in the pool...but kids will be kids and they will be louder than adults..they will also play and splash water...

What adults need to understand is that is a fact that children are not as observant as adults and having said that, MOVE AWAY from the water so you don't get you or your stuff wet!!! My boys are 21 and 23...and I still move away from the water's edge when there are kids in the pool...that's common sense..and if there are kids and you don't like all the noise..go elsewhere..or wait until a bit later..Sorry...just the way I feel about things..don't punish a child for being a child.

Kids are kids and when was the last time you were at a pool and the kids were quiet. Some people can be a bit funny though. Never mind if you were loud enough the lady won't be coming back.

I think sometimes mothers take things for granted and expect everyone to understand. I know how hard it is bringing up kids, and we all love our children to bits. My kids are a little bit older now,so it does get easier.Sometimes I start the day as Mary Poppins and end up as Cruella de Vil.

Last year we were members of the Doha Club before it closed down, and my children loved it. It was a pretty sight just watching all the kids scream, play, swim and do all the things that makes them happy. But I also had some single friends that were members; it wasn’t really fair on them as some days the noise was unbearable.

Zakmama and aquilla, am sure there must have been some sort of misunderstanding.

I'm still giggling about it. I even e-mailed Scarlett cos I HAD to tell someone !!! I nearly fell off my chair!

upon reading this, i may be talking to my sponsor in some thread:P

I couldn't resist

gawd! don't DO that - I was still musing and thought you were for real !!!!

Can you turn that music down please? All i can hear is Barry Manilows greatest hits coming through the walls.

so that's ONE less problem. However, I now have another problem ..

...I am now terrified I have a neighbour in QL !!!

That's the thing with compound facilities. People view them as extensions of their home. Which is why we don't use the pool in our compound.

You have been SERVED zacmama!!!

We were sitting out of the pool and your children were still jumping and kicking water and it was going all over our stuff. That is when I told you I thought they needed to understand that splashing others is disrespectful. I don't think I complained about noise, never mentiond my hair, only asked that as we both wear contact lenses a little consideration would be appreciated.

....a grouchy old lady. Let her be. Why spoil your day?

Don´t give it a second thought. Some people just can´t stand kids having fun. However, it is very important that they understand that splashing others is disrespectful and encourage them to aim only at themselves. The sooner they learn to be considerate to others the better.