It's a long story so I'm going to try and add picture to stop you all from falling asleep and also help you all help me, to figure out why I'm the crazy lady and why no one else sees it like me.
I'm not sure if I'll get unbiased responses from most of you as I know most of my readers are mothers...but we'll see.
So Baby C's god parents wanted to get her this swimming pool for her birthday:
I didn't really want a pool at all because one I didn't want something else to maintain at this time, and two I felt with Baby C being so small it seemed like an unnecessary risk. BUT, I've been told that I often come off as brash and rude so I composed myself and asked if we could get an alternate model. I told her godparents that by the looks of this model it would require quite a bit of assembly work each summer and disassembling each winter and I really didn't feel up to that. As I expected, her god mother got defensive and said she was going to order it anyway. I politely let her know she could order it but it wouldn't be put together and she'd be wasting her money.
So with that said she threw a strop and asked me "Well which one out of this magazine can I order!".
So looked through the book and found this one, that seems to merely be inflatable and doesn't require assembly:
After much ado about nothing! (Thank you Shakespeare!) she ordered it an anxiously awaited it's arrival.While waiting it's arrival it dawned on me that we'd need a cover for this thing, and I went to the website from which she ordered it in search of a cover.
Well to my dismay this bloody model doesn't come with a freakin cover!!! Oh vei
The next best thing to an inflatable pool that did come with a cover was something similar to this one (but not as big):
And when covered would look like this:
So when the blasted thing finally arrived (and I am not trying to be negative here so please don't read into my feelings, cast your own judgement, if that's even possible with me cursing through the post! :0)) I spoke with Baby C's god mother and expressed to her my concerns.My concerns went something like this:
1. This pool doesn't have a cover
2. This pool doesn't even have a cover you can buy
3. My back yard is not fenced in and we don't plan on getting it fenced in as we love our neighbors but there are two young children living next door.
4. If any child from the neighborhood came over and drowned in our pool we'd be liable especially without a fence.
Her response went something like this:
Well you wouldn't let me get the one I wanted anyway and I'm not sending it back!!!!!!!!
Ok back up here...even if we did get the one you wanted we'd still need a cover? And were you going to come over and help me put it up and take it down each summer???? Excuse me I can't hear you???????? No I didn't think so.
Baby C's god father says he understand both points and doesn't want to take sides. He says that yes it needs a cover but I made her order that one.
Big C says he'll just cover it with tarp or empty it after each use. Erm hello...it holds 765 gallons of water!!! Are you really going to waste that much water? And if you answer yes to that question where are you going to empty it? Where ever you empty that much it will create a damn pool itself!!!!
So there you have it people....I'm the crazy lady! One says "I'm not returning it because you wouldn't let me order the one I wanted"...the other says "I'm staying out of it" and the last one says "I'll just cover it with tarp".
So last night on the news I heard a horrifying story about a 3 year old that drowned in a pool that was surrounded by a 4 foot fence (and yet you want to cover it with tarp?). Of course upon hearing the news coverage, I run upstairs turn to show Big C. His response from last night I don't remember, but this morning I remember him saying he would just empty it and fill it each time.
I said to him, after hearing that story why am I the ONLY person who doesn't even want to put the pool up? I asked him honestly. What's wrong with me? I mean you all say you totally understand my concerns but no one just DOESN'T want to put it up. Everyone is trying to find a way around sending it back and I just don't understand it?
So if god forbid something happens who's going to be on the news saying "I wish we'd sent it back", because I won't be on there.
So my question for you guys why am I the only person looking crazy here? I don't live my life sitting around waiting for bad things to happen honestly I don't. But I don't think I'm exempt from bad things happening to me either. You'll never hear me say "I didn't think it would happen to me", as anything is possible.
So just this afternoon Big C said he was going to take the pool out of his car, as that's where it's been sitting this entire time. I told him, as we hadn't even opened it we should just put return to sender on it and send it back and hope that it gets routed to the right person and the money refunded. The most illogical part is that baby C's god mother doesn't care if it sits unused as she pays for it monthly, as long as she doesn't have to send it back!!!
So what would you do?
P.S. So I just got done writing this long old post and someone just came up to me and said...why don't you get the circle cover and see if it will fit the hexagon pool. Now while this mathematically doesn't sound plausible it might just work! But just as the person was leaving after suggesting this idea he mentioned that he thought you had to have a 6ft fence around your property in order to have a pool in my county!! Great now I have something else to worry about!!!!!!
ok, I'm not voting only because right now this work computer will not allow me to see your pictures. So i will give you my .02 cents from what I read...1st Baby C is only 1. Any pool that has assembly/disassmbly required I think is too much. Plus those things are always way more work than they seem. PLUS if you don't have a fence I think it would be pretty dangerous. The blow up one-Now I can't see how big it is. But I think it would be a MUCH better choice. If it really is gaint, why not fill it up each use, but only a little bit. Just enough to get her wet? Maybe that would work? I usually get a small blow up, or one of those hard plasic pools each year for my kids and they love it.
ReplyDeleteIf you do chose to send it back, maybe see if you can exchange it for something that would better fit your needs? That way her god mother isn't too offended. I think she just wants to do something nice for baby C and you. Anyways, now that I've taken up your whole blog! I hope it all works out!
WOW!! What a delimma you have here. It always makes me just shake my head in awe, when OTHER family members want to do something for YOUR child. I mean, it's very sweet and everything. But I sometimes feel that they don't take EVERYTHING into consideration. Like loud toys for instance. Sure they want to buy it because it's cute and makes fun noices. But THEY don't have to hear it ALL DAY LONG!!! (does it sound like I speak from experience?)
ReplyDeleteThere are several more things to consider here, in your situation other than Little C having a pool to play in. Why not get her one that's sufficient to her current size and maybe a year or two older? OR...why doesn't this person get the pool and keep it at THEIR house if they want her to have it so badly? OR, why don't they let you send it back and let YOU chose something more fitting for YOUR child and YOUR house/yard?
You're not crazy! You're a mom...and a concerned one at that. I'm not saying NOT to get her a pool...but let's ALL be reasonable. :-)
1stly baby C is too small for a pool of that size
ReplyDelete2ndly baby C would be just as happy wiht a sprinkler or a little tiny baby pool for $10 at Walmart that holds very little water and you dump each time.
3rdly...WTH did you choose this woman as her god mother, LOL
I'm going to keep it real simple for you.
ReplyDelete1. Baby C is too little for that pool. The only way she could enjoy is if you were in there with her.
2. Without a fence to your yard, anyone could run up in your yard and take a dip or drown. And yes it would be your fault.
3. Even the "easiest" of pools is hard to drain let alone a pool that hold 700 gallons of water. You will have a yard of mud for days.
4. And the pool doesn't have a cover. Who wants to dig out leaves and crap everything?
I would either store it for later or return it for one that is good for you.
Big Hugs!
Jen you are tooo funny!
ReplyDeletethat pool size is RIDICULOUS!!! i have a 2yo and wouldn't even entertain the thought of having that in the vicinity of my daughter. IN FACT, i would even be pissed off if the neighbors got one ESPECIALLY if it wasn't fenced in. you are not crazy. this is not negotiable. i just get the little pools that are just big enough for the little ones to crawl in and out of and get a little wet. where even if they fell, their heads wouldn't be underwater...
ReplyDeleteI think I would keep it. Check on the laws, put up a removable fence, (you know the kind you can use in a garden) and fashion a tarp, so that it is held down TIGHT with something. Even with a tarp on it, a kid could fall in and the tarp would pull them down. Does that make sense? I think she is so little though, I might would just save it for next year, and get her a smaller kiddie pool. One big enough for you to sit in with her, but not deep at all. They're like $20 bucks at Target. Sorry it is causing so much trouble for you guys!!
ReplyDeleteWe had a nice little (big) blow up pool like that last year.
ReplyDeleteIt's in the trash this year.
Too much hassle IMO. We just drive to my in-laws (5 minutes away) and use their pool. It's screened in and has a baby gate around it. No worries by me..
Good luck with your decision.
I think it's really simple... she is just WAY TOO SMALL for a pool that size! Maybe when she's ten!!!
ReplyDeleteSend it back.
ReplyDeleteOr keep it in the garage without being assembled and wait a few years.
You may be crazy, but so was Galileo - and he was still right. ;)
Hugs to you Melanie! I think not putting it up this year is a good idea and getting a kiddie pool for Little C is a great idea. Hope it all settles down - and I don't think you are crazy! Kim
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ReplyDeleteOkay, my two pennies...store it for now and use it later when Baby C is much older. Or ask about exchanging it for another item for Baby C...something she could play in now. I agree with everyone else, she is much too tiny for this now. Too expensive to dump all that water each time...
ReplyDeleteAnd you are decidedly NOT crazy!! You are a loving Mommy and doing what you feel in your heart is right for your girl.
Hugs,
Sue
Unfortunately there are several issues to address in this post. I will try to address them all in no particular order.
ReplyDelete1. You need to set some ground rules with Baby C's godparents. I know you love them showing your baby with gifts but they need to clear large ticket items with you. Why don't they set-up the pool in their own yard? I know the answer but lets say a few months from now they want to buy her a swing set, as them to put it at their house and that will be their special activity with their goddaughter.
2. Baby C is too little for the pool they bought. Send it back! Plus, much love to Big C, but I can still see you doing all the work to maintain it.
3. It is not worth buying the fence and stressing over neighbor kids drowning in it. Plus, the sand box is fun and Baby C's backyard play. Once again, tell them to setup a pool that fits in their backyard.
4. What gave your godparents the impression that what they desire overrides you and Big C? I have gotten this impression from day 1 and something needs to be done to straighten this for your relationship with them to be stabilized. Baby C is not their daughter but yours so you have the first and final say. I sure wish you would have known this prior to making them godparents but I know you will handle it in the you way.
5. Tell the godparents to save some money for Baby #2 and #3. They do know you will have more children, right?
Kansas Queen they already have a big old permanent pool in their back yard so putting it up there won't happen.
ReplyDeleteI guess they would say they did consult us and I should have just put my foot down and said no like I wanted to, if I came off as rude them just oh well.
You are right they do feel like their desires overshadow ours but I know it's just because they love her so much. But I agree the issue will have to be address sooner or later...right now the way I address it is to say if she doesn't leave me along then I'm going home and Baby C is coming with me!!! Blackmail I know but it works.
And yes they do know we want more....she keeps begging me to hurry up and have another one!!!
Think you are totally right about this one -- the pool requiring assembly was really not the right choice! The one you got looks good, but there is the cover issue.
ReplyDeleteI think you should try and return it because it freaks me out that it would be open (and with water) all the time - yes, what if some neighbourhood child fell in? How awful would everyone feel. It also seems to me that emptying it of water is really a waste - especially with the need to conserve water these days - what message would you be sending to Baby C?
Look, maybe let it lie for a few weeks and then re-tackle the issue, until then, hold off using it - that is wait and see if Big C remembers to even set it up!!
You could cover it with a tarp, but you would have to ensure that heavy bricks hold the edges down...good luck.
I can understand your annoyance, this is really all about the g-mother pulling a little tantrum.
Also - I TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU!! and not just b/c you are my friend. there is no way you can fill it up every time and take it from me - a TARP will not work, or not work very well no matter how you tie it down. too many things could happen with that too. we have used them in the past on things I had and it doesn't work. you need a real cover. And - there is NO WAY a one year old needs a pool that big. why didn't she listen to you.. maybe when she gets old... but not now.. anyway.. i just needed to let you know I totally understand where you are coming from...
ReplyDelete~ Aly
I'm totally late on this one. But honestly, last year Jada ***had*** a huge blow up pool too. We emptied it and filled it every day. Our backyard is fenced and really we didn't need to do that, but the accumulation of bugs and dirt in the thing was annoying so we did. It wasn't too bad and it kept our grass healthy. We simply didn't run our night sprinklers as an alternative. Now, I pointed out that she ***had*** a huge pool, because this year we went for a small one. Yep, that darn thing didn't even last another year, if you check my blog out now there's a picture of Jada's this year pool, look hard you'll see her last year pool serving as tarp over our bar-b-que, LOL. It was way too, much work. This year's pool is also inflatable but no where near all the work. I'm just coming to grips with what Jada gets because it's all a waste these early years. I'm overwhelmed with all of her left over *stuff* and I feel like I'm drowning in baby stuff. So, keep it simple. I voted to empty it everyday only because well, you have it. Or you can save it for a much needed time like in 3 or so years and just get a small simple one.
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