What would you have done ?

Just a background. DH and I have a 4 year old DD. We were at a Disney hotel with a outdoor pool and one of those big, twirly slides (not the tunnel ones). We let DD go down the slide twice. Both times, DH took her up the stairs and I waited in the pool for her. He would give me a wave when she was about to go down so I knew she was next to come out. Then DH went down the slide. My DD wears a life vest and the resort had abiut 5 life guards. My DD started talking to a few kids that wanted to go on the slide. DH had stepped out to get lunch for us. She really wanted to go on the slide like the kids so I went up the stairs with her but did not want her going down the slide first. I did not want her to be alone in the pool while I went down the slide. By the landing area there were 2 parents from different families. I asked if they would assist her on the slide right after I went down. I did this because there were other kids waiting and I wanted to make sure that my DD takes the next turn rather than being left in the landing area. I also felt it was necessary to let the parents know why I was going down the slide first (to catch DD). I told the parents I would look up upon landing and to alert me if my DD changed her mind. They said absolutely. So I go down the slide and wait for the thumbs up. One of the Dads motions me over. I hurry back up the stairs and see my daughter doesn't want to go down. So we just went down the stairs. DD told me that the men asked if she was ready and she told them she didn't want to go because the last time she went, water went up her nose.
Is there something I should have done differently? DH thought I should not have even attempted this since we were both not available. I didn't realize at the time that DH really coached her the first two times. I thought DD went without any coaching. Was I that wrong? Was it crazy to ask two other parents that I didn't know for help?

Message edited 4/24/2021 11:56:21 PM.

What would you have done ?

No, I don't think it was crazy to ask two other parents for help. But, I probably would have done it the opposite way. I would have put my daughter on the slide and then went down after her. When you go on a slide like that, it takes a few seconds to get your bearings and stand up after you land in the pool. So, I would have asked the other parents to make sure she was OK when she came down. By the time she got up, you would have been down already.

But, that's just my take on it. Please don't beat yourself up over it. Your daughter wanted to go on the slide, but she's still young and got nervous with someone else. You didn't do anything wrong.

Re: What would you have done ?

Re: What would you have done ?

You did nothing wrong!

You tried it and it didn't work. No harm, no foul.

I don't really have any good suggestions because we didn't do things like this until DS was a little older because he couldn't swim at that age and would have been afraid. By the time he was into that stuff he was old enough that he would have been ok with what you tried. But I like what another poster suggested.

I'm curious what resort it was. I ask because we are Disney people and one factor in choosing a resort is the layout of the pool because I don't like when I can't easily see DS even though he is older now and swims well.

What would you have done ?

My honest answer I would never trust another adult I didnt know with my child and would feel totally awkward and decline if someone asked me to put thier child on a waterside.

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Re: What would you have done ?

I agree with your DH. Sorry

Re: What would you have done ?

What would you have done ?

I would have made sure she made it to the top of the slide and then waited in the water for her to come down. Or you could have gone down the slide together. I wouldn’t ask strangers though, sorry!

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What would you have done ?

You didn't do anything wrong but I would have waited for my husband to come back first.

What would you have done ?

I dont think you did anything wrong at all

What would you have done ?

I wouldn't have asked strangers, but that's just because I don't like to talk to people. I don't think you did anything wrong at all. My own DD is a bit older than yours and also gets nervous and changes course at the last minute. I hope you had a great time and wouldn't give it a second thought.

What would you have done ?

Definitely didn't think you did anything wrong.

Re: What would you have done ?

You did nothing wrong.

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What would you have done ?

you did nothing wrong.
please don't beat yourself up for this.

Re: What would you have done ?

I don't think I would've asked the other parents. I would've just told her that I was going down the slide first and then she can go next and I'd catch her at the bottom. Though, my DD is the same age and she probably wouldn't have gone down the slide without someone she knows up there encouraging her.

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You did nothing wrong. I have been in that situation before, in Disney also. Except I had 3 of them. If I was here, I would be highly unlikely to allow a stranger to help my kids unless I was desperate. At Disney, I feel like its all families doing the same thing. Your DD was having fun, she was caught up with the other kids and she wanted to go. So you accommodated her. That's it. No need to feel bad.

What I find kind of funny about the story is that you were the one ending up ripping down the slide while your DD waited for you at the top. It's like a "hold my beer and let mama show you how its done" scenario

Re: What would you have done ?

I took my DS (4) solo to Disney in November and encountered a similar situation. I think you did nothing wrong. Mine was comfortable going down alone but had trouble in the pool after. After he struggled once when he went down first the lifeguard suggested I come down first as him being alone in the water is way more dangerous than at the top of the slide alone.