Pool Parties, do you love them or hate them?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Clear communication is important
-one recent party: no pool mentioned on the invite. So I showed up with no suits. Happened to have oldest dd’s in the car along with one towel. Middle child was practically having a tantrum for being left out. Luckily dh was coming late and could stop by the house and bring middle child’s suit.
-another party: I didn’t know gifts were going to be opened in the formal living room after the pool portion was done. Apparently another family did, and had brought a change of clothes, got all nice looking. I didn’t bring dry clothes for myself or the kids. Just hanging out with our towels and swimsuits while everyone else was dressed.

This! I always seem to get the dress code wrong.
I went to one where all of the parents were completely done up with dresses/ties, jewelry, full make-up and obviously no intention of swimming. I came with my four kids dressed like we were going to the pool. I felt like Kristen Bell’s character at the beginning of Bad Moms.

[Anonymous]

Love them. For our friends that have pools, it's largely understood that whenever they have a get together between memorial day and labor day, the pool is open. But everyone swims and has a good time.

[Anonymous]

Overall, dislike. Any pool party at a house, dislike for various reasons- little kids can’t be in the pool without an adult, and I have no interest in getting in the pool in that situation. That’s not fun for me. Plus, with all the toddlers you hear about drowning even when lots of adults are around, I couldn’t relax if there were little kids around, even if they aren’t mine.

Party for older kids at a private community pool, with lifeguards, is fine, even nice if the weather and company is good. I have no interest in a swimming party for adults, but socializing near a pool can be nice.

[Anonymous]

I also hate them but it's because I live in a neighborhood where every other house has a pool. My kids get invited to other kids pools all summer long because, as anyone with a pool knows, after the initial joy of getting one, the kids of the family who own the pool will never get in it again unless they have friends over.

Some of the friends who have pools push them to the rest of us so they get use out of them. The only parent I've ever seen get in the pool is the dad of the family who own the pool. It's hot and boring but I go if my kids want to.

[Anonymous]

A pool party for grown adults?? Never been to one, and I’m in CA. People have pool parties for kids, and those are fine. Everyone seems to enjoy.

[Anonymous]

I just love the pool to put my muscles at work and burn calories without having to sweat.
I don’t get why ladies go to the public pool area with their Fidos and sit on the chairs for hours without even attempting to get their feet wet.

[Anonymous]

I'm a 47-year-old female and I'm in decent shape, so I don't hate or dread them. I'm also not like, "Yippee, a pool party" unless it's 90 degrees, in which case, I might get more excited. Either way, I'll put on my suit and maybe sit on the edge of the pool, or lie on a raft.

My kid loves them.

[Anonymous]

As a young girl, I absolutely LOVED them!

Now as a fifty-year old woman w/gray hair, bags under my eyes & having to deal w/middle-age spread and multiple sun spots, I would have an awful time.

[Anonymous]

Love them!

I grew up in SoCal and pool parties are a rite of passage for kids, teens, young adults, and parents. In high school, we would spend - literally - every day at the houses of friends with pools. After school? 5 boys would show up to swim at Timmy's house before we had to run home for dinner.

I can see why a pool party would be nerve wracking for parents of young kids. However, I'm more than happy to swim with my kids and generally keep a watch on what's happening. If you give me BBQ, guacamole, and beer I'm happy to accept every pool party invite!

[Anonymous]

I'm planning a bday pool party - and assume the parents won't swim actually. kids are in fifth grade and will entertain themselves. Do people hate sitting around in lawn chairs, socializing and eating?

[Anonymous]

I hate them but DC loves them so here we go..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm planning a bday pool party - and assume the parents won't swim actually. kids are in fifth grade and will entertain themselves. Do people hate sitting around in lawn chairs, socializing and eating?

I would hate this because for the love of everything I hope to be done accompanying my child to birthday parties long before 5th grade...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm planning a bday pool party - and assume the parents won't swim actually. kids are in fifth grade and will entertain themselves. Do people hate sitting around in lawn chairs, socializing and eating?

In the hot sun? Yes. I hate that.

Surely in 5th grade (turning 11?) this is a drop off party and I wouldn't be required to stay?

[Anonymous]

I love being at the pool and have no issue with people seeing my less than stellar body in a swim suit.

But I dread pool parties at peoples homes. As others have said, the dress can be tricky. Also the pools are really too small for the number of kids invited, and so then it becomes dangerous. But then they are all wet, so the host does not want them inside either. I would rather be at a pool or pool party at a real pool with lifeguards.

[Anonymous]

I hate pool parties. Kids horse around (not great in a water situation with different levels of swimmers), parents are distracted socializing, and the lifeguards may or may not be trustworthy. Watching kids in a pool feels more like a job. If it's a party with small kids, they want to get in right away, then jump out and go running around, and jump in again. Am I supposed to chase my kid around to stay within an arm's reach?