Pools

[JulySheMustFly]

Which do you choose?

-A family pool at the grandparents with whom you have a wonderful relationship but is 20 miles away (round trip is 40 miles and easily 1 hour)
-A community pool where your oldest has a best friend and is only 1.5 miles. (I can ride my bike with child trailer there in 10 minutes)

Some important pieces of info to aid your decision.
*Cost of one round trip to grandmas in your vehicle is $10 because of fuel prices
*Season membership is $288 at community pool
*On average your family swims 3 to 4 times a week.
*You have two children who cannot swim yet & one who can swim confidently.
* The hrandparents work full-time so you'd only get to visit with them on weekends anyway.

 

[GolfingMom]

I choose local/community pool.
Both my kiddo's swim just fine and I have them use the community pool. It's $5.00 a visit I think.
I figure the amount of time you'd be in the car driving to grandparents can be spent swimming locally That's an extra hour of pool time!

 

[Neenie1]

I guess it depends on what you want to do. If I were to visit the grandparents and spend the day there, it would be worthwhile. I don't think this would be something I do every week though. How many miles to the kilometre?

 

[Wrexscar]

I guess it depends on what you want to do. If I were to visit the grandparents and spend the day there, it would be worthwhile. I don't think this would be something I do every week though. How many miles to the kilometre?

1.6k to the mile.

I'd go with the community pool, helps with socalisation of kids. If it is like ours swimming lessons might be available for the kids to take some of the burdon of yourself.
Questions to be asked ages of your kids, sex of your kids, changing facilities there.
In my gym we have male and female changing areas but kids under 6 can change in either one. It sets my teeth on edge to see 6 yr old girls in there with naked men walking back from the showers.
I don't allow the boy into the womens area even at 6 months. His mum doesn't get to take him swimming on her own, a shame I know.

 

[bugaboo]

I would probably stick with the community pool as well, and use the grandparent's pool when you're visiting.

We just bought one of those inflatable ring pools. It's too small to do laps in, but for the price ($150) I figured it was well worth it, even if it only lasts one summer. They're a good alternative if you have a fenced yard.

 

[Hadassah]

I'd pick the grandparents, but that's just me.

 

[JulySheMustFly]

We live so close that we likely wouldn't be changing there so those facilities aren't a concern.

I looked into those pools where you fill it with water and the pool sets up. It would consume our entire yard. And I'm nervous about having it as a constant temptation for my little ones.

Something my mom mentioned was the risk of getting sick more if we went to the com. pool. Is this risk real or is it just my mom being a germaphobe as the result of having an imuno-compromized child?

 

[MyaShane]

I would go with the community pool.
That's what we did this year. We bit the bullet and paid the $160 for the family pass and have probably already made it up with how much we've gone! We're just a good walk up to the pool and grandparents (if they had a pool) would be a drive for us, too. Our girls really prefer the public pool since they see most of their friends up there and that's what makes it more special for them. Don't know about kids getting sick from the public pools, might need to do some research on that one.

 

[Robinsegg]

Something my mom mentioned was the risk of getting sick more if we went to the com. pool. Is this risk real or is it just my mom being a germaphobe as the result of having an imuno-compromized child?

The chemicals put in the pool water (and checked regularly and I assume inspected in community pool) are designed to negate contagion issues . . . unless a person has an open wound. Hubby's concern with this is usually the fact that little ones are likely to urinate because of the prevalence of water.
Rachel

 

[TexasSky]

How crowded is the community pool?

I used to prefer the nearest pool until it got so crowded that you could do little more than stand in the water and hope no one stepped on you. Now I drive to my office gym, which is about 10 miles away.

 

[lucypevensie]

I'd go with the community pool as it's more convenient. Chlorine and all those chemicals do a good job of killing bacteria. And if it's outdoors the UV rays from the sun will zap germs really fast too. I doubt kids are more prone to illness from pools than they are with schools, churches and grocery stores.

 

[Singin4Him]

Community pool. I have this dilema myself. My MIL who I actually don't have a very close relationship asked me to drive out to her house (an hour away which means 2 hours or mucn more if I have to drive back in rush hour) just so she could watch my son play in this kiddie pool near her house when I have a community pool she can just as well do the same thing. So we'll be having her drive in if she wants to spend time with us..or with my son I should say because she could care less to spend time with me . If gas is an issue or just the time in your day that it takes then ask them to come to you and spend time with you all. Of course you should give in and go to them from time to time but I think the convience of the parent and children is more important.

 

[heart of peace]

I would go with the community pool as well (some of my best memories from childhood happened there).

 

[CarrieAg93]

We love our community pool. It's $2 per visit (3 & under free) or $100 for a family pass. We live in a small town so DSs usually run into a friend or 2 there.

 

[JulySheMustFly]

Well. It looks like the decision was made for me. If we do the community pool that is it for the summer. Our "fun" budget is then spent. So, I opted for a few more fun things like a day camp that runs the whole summer for my oldest to get to regularly see and have fun with her best friends from school. A few trips to the shore and season pass to a children's museum that we can use for the entire year. Yup. I can do all of that on what it would be for 3 months at the community pool.

My child-free aunt has recently told me she plans to continue to give gas cards to her nieces and nephews who have young families or are just starting in their careers as a way to help out. So, my fuel concerns have been alleviated.

 

[MyaShane]

That's great! Sounds like a fun summer!!

 

[Hadassah]

awesome!!