Maybe its the influence of my grandmothers, my mother or just being raised in a female dominated home, but you can't intimidate me, Creepy Dude. Last night at the pool a younger staff member, (a description that pretty much covers everyone I work with,) nervously runs up to me at the front desk and says, "There's a guy in the women's locker room! What do I say?"
"How about- THIS IS THE WOMEN'S LOCKER ROOM. YOU CAN'T BE IN HERE!" Too nervous to confront him herself, (she said he was one of the "mean" dads,) I offer my voice.
Upon entering the locker room I was stunned to see it filled with several women, all staring at the man, but not one of them feeling comfortable enough to ask him to leave.
I get the man's attention, inform him of the obvious and his response back to me was, "Well where am I suppose to change my daughter!?"
We have a family restroom, changing stalls on deck and of course he could have always taken her into the men's locker room. Why he chose the ladies' locker room almost leaves me to come to a very creepy conclusion.
When my boys were little guys, I would take them into the ladies' room, not the men's. Most parents use "their" locker room, well in fact, every parent I know has done this except for Creepy Dude. We inform our guests, families with children over the age of 5 must use the family restroom or poolside changing stalls.
I wanted to give this guy the benefit of the doubt. Maybe he couldn't read English? You would think a room full of women, wrapped up in towels staring at you would give you pause, but then again, none of those women said boo to him, and he was focused on dressing his daughter, not feeling the piercing stares all around him.
Afterward a coworker asked me, "What if he wasn't a guy?" I suppose he/she would have been offended by my actions, but with the rest of the guests feeling he/she was in the wrong place, I was willing to take that chance.
She brought up a good point though. In this day and age, gender lines are criss crossed more often. Maybe next time, I'll pause after first saying, "this is the ladies locker room," and wait for a response before I say, "GET OUT!"
9 comments:
Why on earth would he think it's alright to use the women's locker room, especially when there's a family room?
His thinking was a little warped to even THINK it was appropriate to be in there with all of the women. The way you handled it was perfect. The family restroom was the perfect place for him to go.. :o)
Good grief. He needs someone to tell him proper protocol. Had I been in the locker room, I would have escorted him out! I can't believe none of the other women said anything. All public places have family restrooms now, and/or changing areas in both the men's room and the women's restrooms....even our Museum, here! I might be inclined to call the cops if it happens again. He should know better...probably does know better. Warped and/or weird for sure.
I can't believe that none of the women in the locker room said anything to him. Why would he think it was ok to use the ladies locker room baffles me.
As an involved dad that frequently has to change my daughter I kind of understand this guy's dilemma. However, I'm not sure how he came to the conclusion to enter the ladies' locker room. Perhaps he isn't nearly as experenced with the "protocol" as he should be.
It's extremely awkward to take my extremely outgoing daughter into the men's room because I'm certain she's going to strike up conversations with the men trying to do their business. For some reason that makes us all feel uncomfortable. :) Thank God for family restrooms although far too few businesses have one. On the same note, I'm not afraid at all to embarrass a manager or business owner for having a changing table in the women's room but not the men's.
This guy is definately not right and should of used the family restroom. When my son was small we always used the restrooms for changing and if he had to go to the bathroom he went to the ladies room with me. I still don't trust public restrooms and always stand near until he comes out.
Wow- what a weirdo! I love your "tales from the pool," Dawn- you get to bear witness to a lot of crazy stuff. You should compile it all into a novel or some short stories. :)
Wow, that does boggle the mind. Glad you straightened him out.
GAH!! I can't believe no one else would say anything to him!
The last time my DH took one of our girls into the men's room someone called the police and said, "There's a man in the men's restroom with a little girl." So he was like, "Well, what was I supposed to do with her?" (It was a grocery store, no family restroom.....when they were small I *really* appreciated places with family restrooms.) Of course, since it's a small town and everyone knows everyone else, the police just said, "Oh, okay, we have to check, you know." But still...
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