Does anyone feel like "pool life" doesn't work for you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do your towel and swimsuit prep the night before. Leave a pool toy bag in the car. Simplify snacks. 90 min at the pool is plenty!

We moved out of the city and live near my mom whose backyard is basically like a resort in the summer. I still don’t spend more than 1-2 hours at her pool unless lots of family is there helping and making it more of a party atmosphere. I can’t imagine spending 4,5, 6 hours there on a daily basis. You’re doing fine, OP.

What is towel and swimsuit prep? That literally takes three minutes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where is your husband in all of this? What is he packing? Sounds like you’re doing it all yourself

I wouldn’t enjoy watching kids at the pool either.

I'm a lesbian.

[Anonymous]

We pack the pool bag the night before (towels, clean suits, sunscreen (doesn't leave the bag) toys etc.
granted we only have one kid (more on the way). Right now we go 2 days a week and arrive right at 5, bring dinner and stay until 7 and then home and to bed. Dinner is easy (chopped veg, rotisserie, fruit, chips/pretzels or something to grill). Sometimes we order pizza to deliver to the pool. Our pool has some grassy areas and grills and a sandbox so my preschooler plays with more than just the water.
I've seen many families with multiple kids and the babies get worn by the mom or dad as they are wading in the big pool shallows watching their other kids.

[Anonymous]

I feel like life in general would not work for me if I had three kids and my husband wasn’t helpful.

[Anonymous]

I think the biggest issue is the age gaps between your kids. It's just rough for this type of stuff.

[Anonymous]

Good grief.

A 5 month old is tough at the pool.

A 4 year old is tough at the pool.

An 8 year old is great at the pool.

Do the math OP.

[Anonymous]

We have a pool at our apartment building but we don't go for more than an hour. What is this "pool life" described on DCUM? People really hang out all day like it's the beach? I am from a cold state where this doesn't happen.

OP, I only go with my 3yo when my husband is watching the baby because I don't think I could handle a baby and watch my older child at the same time. I'm impressed that you've been able to do so much with a baby in tow!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where is your husband in all of this? What is he packing? Sounds like you’re doing it all yourself

I wouldn’t enjoy watching kids at the pool either.

I'm a lesbian.

Okay then where is your wife?

[Anonymous]

Op, when mine were little for a small amount I could hire an off duty life guard to swim with the older ones, or you could even just straight out pay for lessons. That would take care of some of your problem and at least give you an hour of peace with the youngest one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe your kid's are just too little for this to be a good daily thing. I did this with one kid but different ages and still too young to swim in own is just a LOT.

+1 OP in 3 years the pool will be a completely different experience for your children and for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do your towel and swimsuit prep the night before. Leave a pool toy bag in the car. Simplify snacks. 90 min at the pool is plenty!

We moved out of the city and live near my mom whose backyard is basically like a resort in the summer. I still don’t spend more than 1-2 hours at her pool unless lots of family is there helping and making it more of a party atmosphere. I can’t imagine spending 4,5, 6 hours there on a daily basis. You’re doing fine, OP.

What is towel and swimsuit prep? That literally takes three minutes.

OP said it takes her 45 minutes to prep for the pool. I don’t have a clue what her exact routine entails. But when I know I want to get to the pool in the morning then the night before I grab 3 new towels (or put today’s towels in the dryer and then fold them up and put them back in the bag), grab 3 swimsuits, rash guards if needed, swim diapers, water shoes, sun hats, a cover up for the one who likes to be cozy when she’s out of the water etc. I didn’t think I needed to spell out my routine but just advising the OP to get it all together and packed the night before so it’s just “grab and go” and not a mad dash while kids are whining at the door to leave. Maybe it takes YOU 3 minutes but when you have multiple kids and stuff spread out in each of their rooms and some things hanging to dry from the last pool trip it can take some time to track down all the right pieces.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s boring. My kids go for a bit, but it’s small town suburban folks who have nothing else to do.

I know, right? Total low class losers. Pools are so tacky! I mean on a sweltering hot day I’d much rather be out and about downtown soaking in all the culture (and that fantastic humidity!) than immersing myself in a gloriously cool pool that OTHER PEOPLE PUT THEIR BODIES IN. I mean, who does that?!?

I hit submit right before I vomited. Thank god I got that out!

Yes. Because those are the only two choices. Such in the box thinking is why you are stuck in your neighborhood pool.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe your kid's are just too little for this to be a good daily thing. I did this with one kid but different ages and still too young to swim in own is just a LOT.

+1 OP in 3 years the pool will be a completely different experience for your children and for you.

OP here and I know this is true and look forward to it! Dh works during the weekdays and on weekends our pool is too busy to really enjoy. Plus I'm a part time nurse and do one 12 hour shift on Saturday to Sunday. Going to try and tweak things and maybe go from 530 to 7 on days DH can meet us by like 615. Thanks all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do your towel and swimsuit prep the night before. Leave a pool toy bag in the car. Simplify snacks. 90 min at the pool is plenty!

We moved out of the city and live near my mom whose backyard is basically like a resort in the summer. I still don’t spend more than 1-2 hours at her pool unless lots of family is there helping and making it more of a party atmosphere. I can’t imagine spending 4,5, 6 hours there on a daily basis. You’re doing fine, OP.

What is towel and swimsuit prep? That literally takes three minutes.

OP said it takes her 45 minutes to prep for the pool. I don’t have a clue what her exact routine entails. But when I know I want to get to the pool in the morning then the night before I grab 3 new towels (or put today’s towels in the dryer and then fold them up and put them back in the bag), grab 3 swimsuits, rash guards if needed, swim diapers, water shoes, sun hats, a cover up for the one who likes to be cozy when she’s out of the water etc. I didn’t think I needed to spell out my routine but just advising the OP to get it all together and packed the night before so it’s just “grab and go” and not a mad dash while kids are whining at the door to leave. Maybe it takes YOU 3 minutes but when you have multiple kids and stuff spread out in each of their rooms and some things hanging to dry from the last pool trip it can take some time to track down all the right pieces.

This shouldn’t be so difficult.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do your towel and swimsuit prep the night before. Leave a pool toy bag in the car. Simplify snacks. 90 min at the pool is plenty!

We moved out of the city and live near my mom whose backyard is basically like a resort in the summer. I still don’t spend more than 1-2 hours at her pool unless lots of family is there helping and making it more of a party atmosphere. I can’t imagine spending 4,5, 6 hours there on a daily basis. You’re doing fine, OP.

What is towel and swimsuit prep? That literally takes three minutes.

OP said it takes her 45 minutes to prep for the pool. I don’t have a clue what her exact routine entails. But when I know I want to get to the pool in the morning then the night before I grab 3 new towels (or put today’s towels in the dryer and then fold them up and put them back in the bag), grab 3 swimsuits, rash guards if needed, swim diapers, water shoes, sun hats, a cover up for the one who likes to be cozy when she’s out of the water etc. I didn’t think I needed to spell out my routine but just advising the OP to get it all together and packed the night before so it’s just “grab and go” and not a mad dash while kids are whining at the door to leave. Maybe it takes YOU 3 minutes but when you have multiple kids and stuff spread out in each of their rooms and some things hanging to dry from the last pool trip it can take some time to track down all the right pieces.

Dp here. Some people are better prepared. Some pack meals.

It takes me 5 minutes. 3 new towels. Big kids put on swim suits. I take baby swim suit and diaper. Grab a drink and snack. Our pool has a snack shack and we rarely eat meals at pool unless there is an event that has food.