Last night, the Y was packed. Yes, it's that special time of year--New Year's resolution time! For the next three weeks or so, the exercise area will be packed. Then about the time of my birthday, it will start to get a bit less hectic and by Valentine's Day, it will generally be the same people you see at the Y at whatever time of day you go with maybe a new face or two added to the mix.
It's part of the great circle of life. It happens every year around this time of year.
I saw a long line of people waiting to join and while I hope they stick with their resolution to keep in shape, I wonder how many of these people will look down at the bank statement come March and wonder--why am I having that money deducted from account for a Y membership? I hardly ever go.
Of course, the one negative thing about all this is you have parents descending upon the Y, seeing the pool and thinking--I can workout and leave the kiddos in the pool. From all of us who use the pool for exercise, I ask that you consider not doing this. First of all, the lifeguards are not paid babysitters. Second of all, I think if a kid is under the age of 12, a parent or guardian should be required to be in the pool area if the kid is swimming. For some reason, kids brains seem to be wired like this: I see the lap pool and it's mostly empty. I should go jump in it even though deep down, I know the rules say I shouldn't. So, they do. Now, the thing is--when I'm swimming laps, I am doing my best to pay attention to my stroke, where others are in the lane, making sure to breath, etc. Things that are all pretty predictable. But you throw in the random element of an unsupervised kid running around and jumping into the lane and it can be dangerous for everyone. I've got enough guilt in my life without running into a kid who is goofing off in the lap lane, thank you.
Of course, part of this falls on the lifeguards to enforce the rules. I know that the lifeguards can't watch the lap lane I'm in every second. But when there are rules such as no one 12 and under in the lap lanes or the whirlpool, I expect them to be enforced. I've learned over the years it's better to get the help of a lifeguard to deal with unruly kids than it is to say something to them myself. Namely because I don't feel like getting yelled at by an overprotective parent because you asked junior to get out of the lap lane. Yes, I'm the bad guy here....
On Monday, I did get a bit annoyed becuase I asked the lifeguard for some assistance with what I assumed were underaged kids in the whirlpool and she said, "Oh but they're so cute" and then giggled. The problem with a pool complaint is you have to dry off, change clothes and then go complain...which would have been wading through the 17,000 people who are there to sign up for membership. So, I wasn't able to bring my complaint to someone higher up in a timely manner...so that's my fault.
posted by Michael Hickerson at 1/04/2006 08:16:00 AM |
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