Am I the only parent who would not flip out over this or think it was "cute"?

[Anonymous]

We were at the neighborhood pool this weekend.

During the adult swim, I noticed a boy and girl walking by holding hands. Based off the size of the kids and their faces, I would guess they were about 4th grade at the absolute oldest. The were cute "popular" looking kids. They could have been younger, but not likely, and based on my small for the grade 6th grader and his friends, and the fourth graders in our neighborhood, I highly doubt they were older than 10.

Later, I am in the pool and this same boy and girl are swimming right next to me. They are snuggling together in the water, the boy was picking her up and cradling her in his arms for most of the time. At one point, he appeared to group her chest, and he was definitely rubbing her back, behind, etc as he held her. There was another boy and girl hanging out with them, but those two kept an age appropriate and normal distance from each other. The "couple" were all over each other. No kissing, but for a couple of half dressed 10 year olds it was way over the line.

They were at the age for our pool that they would have to have had parents with them. Because of this, I bit my tongue even though I really, really wanted to say something (and I am 99% of the time a very butt out of it kind of person). They were openly acting like I might expect a couple of high school kids to act (but not at a public family pool in the middle of the day)

I can't believe their parents were fine with this behavior, but apparently they were because the kids were so open with it.

Would you have said something? Would you have been okay with this if it were your fourth grade son or daughter? I have never seen kids this young act so openly sexual with each other, in front of their parents, neighbors and who knows who else. If they are like this in the middle of the day at the pool with all those people around, I can't imagine what they are doing after school before mom and dad get off work or when they are hanging out in the neighborhood outside.

[Anonymous]

No, there's nothing cute about this. No I would not allow my elementary, middle or HS child to behave this way at our pool. I may have said something to them directly, but that would depend on circumstances. It is far more likely I would say something to the lifeguard or the pool manager that their behavior was inappropriate (almost regardless of age considering its a family neighborhood pool).

Poor kids. Life is much more difficult with bad parents.

[Anonymous]

Maybe they were older than you think.

[Anonymous]

I agree that this was not cute at all, but I don't think it was your place to say anything. We don't have modesty police in this country. People are free to be shitty parents (as their parents clearly are).

[Anonymous]

Goodness, mind your own business!

My son is 9 and because of his baby face and small stature people think he's 5.
I'm 34 and people have told me I look like a teenager (not because of clothing!).

These kids were probably much older than you think they were.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe they were older than you think.

They were definitely not older.

The girl was clearly prepubescent. The boy was as well.

In an average fourth grade class, the would look like kids who maybe were in third grade. I only guessed older based on the two friends. They looked to be solidly 10 year olds.

If I were to date the two kids, I would say the girl was maybe 9 and the boy likely a young 10.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Goodness, mind your own business!

My son is 9 and because of his baby face and small stature people think he's 5.
I'm 34 and people have told me I look like a teenager (not because of clothing!).

These kids were probably much older than you think they were.

So you'd be ok with your 12 or13 year old son caressing a girls behind and groaning her chest in public?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Goodness, mind your own business!

My son is 9 and because of his baby face and small stature people think he's 5.
I'm 34 and people have told me I look like a teenager (not because of clothing!).

These kids were probably much older than you think they were.

OP, I have small kids who look young. These kids were not older. There was a group of them, and they all looked to be around fourth grade.

Okay, lets say the kids were 5th or 6th. It is still inappropriate. Or would you be one of the parents who think it was just fine and "cute"?

[Anonymous]

I'm going to guess that maybe they were... European? Okay, okay, I just threw a huge stereotype out there, maybe... but I'm thinking specifically about my European cousins who growing seemed to not have the same gender/sex separation thing that I/we Americans do. Generally girls and boys and girls and girls and boys and girls seemed to be much more comfortable with being friends and friendly and even snuggly.

??

[Anonymous]

MYOB

Oh wait, I forgot this is DCUM. That's impossible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Goodness, mind your own business!

My son is 9 and because of his baby face and small stature people think he's 5.
I'm 34 and people have told me I look like a teenager (not because of clothing!).

These kids were probably much older than you think they were.

So you'd be ok with your 12 or13 year old son caressing a girls behind and groping chest in public?

iPad autocorrect

[Anonymous]

They probably could see that you were ogling them and decided to give you a show. MYOB.

[Anonymous]

Sadly MYOB. If it were my child I would absolutely have an eye on them and break it up as soon as I saw it happening. Unfortunately their parents don't sound as clued in.

[Anonymous]

Who's calling it cute? Sounds like you heard others saying it was cute. Perhaps they didn't know what else to say but weren't planning to intervene either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They probably could see that you were ogling them and decided to give you a show. MYOB.

And how is THAT ok for an 8 year old?!how is that any different than what OP posted?