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Infants, Toddlers, & Preschoolers
Teenagers cursing at swimming pool around small children
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Anonymous
| We went to a local DC pool, Randall, the other day and there were a bunch of teenagers swearing every name in the book and talking about completely inappropriate things. None of the teenagers' parents were around and the lifeguard did not tell them to stop (perhaps this is not on the list of pool rules). I really like the pool and don't want to stop going there. Should I call DC parks and rec and tell them or what should I do? I have gone to the pool several times and this is the first time that the language was totally out of control. |
Anonymous
| Ask a lifeguard if they have a list of rules. I am sure they probably do to have a license. If foul language is not on the list, ask to speak to whoever is in charge about it. |
Anonymous
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"Should I call DC parks and rec and tell them"
LOL! |
Anonymous
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I usually talk to the teenagers directly. Just a quick - "hi, I've got small children, can you please tone down the language while they are here?"
Most of the time, they tone it down for me. Occasionally, they act more jerkish. Then its time to go home... |
Anonymous
| OP - were you a Hall Monitor? |
Anonymous
| I also talk to the teens directly. Usually, they listen and tone down their language or move to a different spot. |
Anonymous
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How old are your kids - I just say - hey you are going to hear words that you can't repeat. You can't save kids from everything they hear - but you can talk to them about how it is not okay.
The only time I said something - my son was 3 - the kids were saying the n-word - I just said hey dudes - I don't really mind myself but if my white 3 year old says that word everybody is going to think I taught it to him and that's going to look really bad. They laughed and said sorry - they stopped. Can you approach them in a non threatening non judgemental way? |
Anonymous
I've done this. Try not to talk down to the teens themselves so they don't feel lectured. "Guys, little kids here (jerking my head towards the toddlers). Thanks!" Usually you'll get a sheepish shrug and a "sorry" and they'll try to clean it up. Heck, I've said the same thing to my DH who is really toning down his proclivity for profanity now that DC is getting old enough to repeat it. |
Anonymous
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OP Here - I was too afraid to say anything to the group of teenagers. There were around 20 of them total at the pool. I had no idea what they would do, but I assumed since they were so loud about it, that they would have just continued. Also, I don't even want to repeat what they were talking about, but it was disturbing (involving the bottom area and some explicit stuff that I never even knew about when I was that age).
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Anonymous
| OP- Here again. Yes, they were also saying the N-word, also. So, I was freaking out for the same reason because if my kids ever said that in school or asked their teachers what that meant, they would think they learned it from home, which is definitely not the case. I really didn't feel comfortable saying anything as I tried to scoot my kids to the away from them. But, other kids were yelling the F word and the S word and the B word from one side of the pool to the other. |
Anonymous
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"Also, I don't even want to repeat what they were talking about, but it was disturbing (involving the bottom area and some explicit stuff that I never even knew about when I was that age). "
Like what? |
Anonymous
| 11:16 here. I was thinking of more like 2 or 3 teens. A group that big, I might leave with a quick group by the manager's office to mention the issue and see if they could be more aware of and responsive to it. Most lifeguards are teens themselves, and might not make the connection between the language and the impact on little kids. |
Anonymous
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I guess because I have college and high school aged kids, the answer seems pretty obvious. "Hey guys....Could you do me a favor?...Could you try not to curse while there are so many little kids around? Thanks!...I really appreciate it."
But I'm not sure I would have had the confidence to do that when all my kids were little. |
Anonymous
| PP here....I just saw that it was a large group of kids being really crude. I would go to the pool manager in that case. |
Anonymous
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Sometimes I feel like an 80 year old woman when it comes to unruly teens but I have no patience for it. I've noticed since the increased reports of crime in the metro led by teens, other adults feel the same and are just not tolerant, on the metro at least. One advantage of being an adult is that I don't have to take the same crap from teens I took as a teen myself among my peers. So if I feel they are being inappropriate around my kid (and I have a pretty high tolerance for that stuff) I will call them out.
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