I can’t enjoy my vacation because selfish parents of selfish parents leave their children unattended

A woman has claimed she was unable to enjoy her holiday after feeling obligated to supervise strangers’ children at the pool – and has criticized parents for not supervising their own children.

Go to the parenting forum Mumsnetthe anonymous woman said she watches her own children in the water.

But other children only play in it without adult supervision and she feels obligated to stay and take care of them.

She asked the community forum whether her action was right or unnecessary.

But the internet was split on what to do, some saying she should stay and others saying it wasn’t her problem.

In her original post, she wrote: “We are on holiday with our two children, aged three and fourteen months.

“My husband and I have taken the kids to the pool every day, but other families just send kids or leave them alone.

“In the end, we feel like we can’t leave the pool because it’s dangerous.

“Is it unreasonable to leave when no other adults are around?”

She also explained that most of the children were between the ages of three and eight.

And that although there was a lifeguard, he did not always have a full view of the pool.

She said she would feel terrible if she left and something happened to a child.

But she added that some of the kids were misbehaving and she didn’t want to take care of them.

She also said the water was up to her thigh, which she said was deep enough for a child to drown in if they hit their head.

The forum was divided on what to do.

Some said she should just leave and not worry about the other kids.

One of them wrote: ‘Just leave when you want. It’s not your job to control things.

“You are indeed putting yourself in danger by taking responsibility.”

Another agreed and said it was not her responsibility.

While another said, “Take care of yourself, that’s all you can and should do.”

But some disapproved of this approach.

One of them wrote, “Even if you see a tragedy happen? What a horrible attitude. I thought we should make it our business when it comes to protecting children.’

Others said she should definitely take action, and many said she should complain to the hotel manager.

One wrote: ‘Go to the front desk and complain about it. Hopefully they can send an employee down to talk to their parents.’

Another wrote: ‘I can’t believe parents are doing this. Definitely talk to the hotel,” and another concurred, adding, “There are some really lazy, selfish parents there. Definitely talk to the hotel manager.’

A fourth said, “Hasn’t there been tragedies in hotels where parents have left their children unattended in swimming pools?”

While another advised telling the lifeguard when they were leaving.

One of them wrote, “Can you tell the lifeguard when you’re leaving?”

“I can’t imagine a parent leaving their child alone in the water at that age.”

One person said the kids might have been good swimmers, but many other parents also related to the experience.

One wrote: ‘I was really surprised by this while on vacation. So many children without an adult with them of course – and this was a nice hotel with well-behaved children.

“We had a few moments that were a little heart in the mouth. I’ll never understand.’

Another wrote: “This has been going on for years. My kids are well into adulthood, but now we had half a dozen kids every year tagging along because we were actually playing with our kids.

“Their parents were usually in the bar.”

A third added: ‘This happened to us last year.

“My husband was actually babysitting for a bunch of kids with bracelets. I really don’t understand why parents have children if they can’t be bothered to take care of them.’