Advice re: Pool

[Anonymous]

Have young kids who do not swim. Thoughts on opening home pool vs keeping it closed?
What about AP taking kids to public pool?
Any advice on how to assess AP swim level?

[Anonymous]

If the kids can't swim, then no.

[Anonymous]

Our AP wanted to take our DKs to the pool with another AP and host kids. We did not allow it bc this particular AP friend group was too chatty and spacy for a pool setting.

[Anonymous]

Is your AP responsible? How old are the kids? If they are old enough to do swimming lessons that would be my goal right now. Then I would leave the pool open assuming you have a fence around it.

[Anonymous]

If you are worried, don’t do it. Wait until you are confident.

[Anonymous]

Is this a joke ?
Half the APs lie about their swimming ability - the other half are on their phones.
Public pool with my kids (who can swim) no problem. Private pool with kids who can swim and AP maybe.

Kids who cannot swim with AP at private pool not a chance.
We have a pool at our vacation home at the beach and parents on duty in the pool. At the ocean, depending on surf AP is in the water 10’yards deeper than kids playing back up if anything goes wrong with us and kids in water.

Young kids and water is our top priority.

[Anonymous]

We have allowed our AP to take our twins to our neighborhood pool by herself when they were 3yo. They still could not swim, but they were comfortable in the baby pool. Before that, we always required that one of was was with the AP.

[Anonymous]

Make AP come to an indoor public pool now. Let them know you want to see their swimming ability as well as being able to handle the kids with you and lifeguards available.

If AP can indeed swim (I've heard ridiculous claims that they can "swim" if their feet can touch the bottom) AND are attentive, then go over some pool rules like NEVER leaving them unattended, 0 phone use or sitting outside of the pool while kids are in, being x number of feet from each child at all times, requiring life vests on at all times, and NO pool "play dates."

Also, if you have more than 2 non swimmers, then it's a hard no. An AP has 2 hands/arms to hold up 2 kids.

If AP does not pass, then I hope you have a safety cover (one of the ones that can support a 500lb person falling on the cover and it doesn't fall in). Go over "house rules" like not trying to take it off and that you will be keeping it closed all summer, so don't try to invite friends over for a pool party when you're not home for a weekend. Buy an inflatable kiddie pool for splashing around instead.

In addition, I'd be taking a hard look at whether I really like AP and consider rematch. We used to have a outdoor in ground pool at our last house and emphasized we NEEDED a strong swimmer for our then nonswimming kids (1.5, 3.5). The older one was close to being able to swim, but not reliably enough that I would allow AP to be a nonswimmer. The deep end was definitely too deep for any adult's feet to touch the bottom. If that AP had turned out to be a nonswimmer, I'd still be feeling incredibly betrayed by the lie and HUGE safety hazard of using our backyard space. Yes, the pool was fully fenced in according to legal standards, but not separately from the backyard.

[Anonymous]

If you are concerned, match with Germans. As long as you get a Germany born German you will have a good swimmer.