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I wouldn't post a sign. Posting a sign is a passive-aggressive way of handling it. The reality is that people are UNWELCOME in your pool at times. There's no reason to post a sign saying otherwise. A more direct approach would be less rude. NY Annie offered a good direct alternative. There's a reason many neighborhood pools don't have lots of neighbors in them. Those families had the backbone to make it clear that only people invited were permitted in the pool. When children hang over your porch, simply tell them that you don't have time to watch them swim today and nobody is permitted to swim without your undivided attention. You are in this situation because you haven't established healthy boundaries. A sign isn't going to solve that.
The reason I don't want to use the flag is that will imply that everyone is welcome in the pool at the same time and that simply won't be the case. It also won't stop the kids from hanging on the porch and looking over the fence at us in the pool which is soooo uncomfortable. They will just use the excuse they are looking for my kids then just stare at us until one of us gets out of the pool to go over and tell them no. Otherwise I have to yell across the yard. So annoying!
The signmay seem rude but it is extremely rude to state at us in the pool until we either say come in or feel horrible for sending them home. I put chairs, construction cones and my kids bikes on the porch to block anyone from hanging on the edge of the porch and that's where I put the sign
The reason I don't want to use the flag is that will imply that everyone is welcome in the pool at the same time and that simply won't be the case. It also won't stop the kids from hanging on the porch and looking over the fence at us in the pool which is soooo uncomfortable. They will just use the excuse they are looking for my kids then just stare at us until one of us gets out of the pool to go over and tell them no. Otherwise I have to yell across the yard. So annoying!
The signmay seem rude but it is extremely rude to state at us in the pool until we either say come in or feel horrible for sending them home. I put chairs, construction cones and my kids bikes on the porch to block anyone from hanging on the edge of the porch and that's where I put the sign
we will see how it goes...
The sign isn't going to stop kids from hanging over your porch pretending to look for your kids.
You shouldn't feel terrible for having healthy boundaries and saying no or sending them home.
You can't avoid that. No sign is going to make it easier to say no. You need to have the courage to be more direct.
Wow those people really do have some nerve using your pool as a community pool and using you and your husband as a daycare center. I bet they all voted for Obama too. Only socialist democrats would have such a sense of entitlement. Maybe you should start charging admission. Like good little socialists, they want everything for nothing, so that'll get rid of them real quick . Seriously though, it's nice of you to let neighborhood kids swim in your pool, but these people are taking advantage of your hospitality, and I bet if something unfortunate were ever to happen when one of their kids trespasses in your pool, they'd lawyer up and sue sue sue despite the fact that you're not liable for injuries to trespassers, legally speaking.
Based on your description, I can't really picture what your yard looks like, but I would recommend putting up a fence, if it's at all possible. You don't have to be mean about it, but I would tell them assertively that it's not a community pool and that they can no longer use it as such. You don't have to justify yourself by saying you can't watch their kids all the time, or anything like that, it's the point. Stress that it's PRIVATE PROPERTY and they have to respect that and your privacy. You can also put up a no trespassing sign, that way if people hang out on the deck, you can call the police and have them removed for trespassing. Of course this is a last resort, and you should talk to them first face to face. Good luck.
Here's what is wrong with the flag: Pretty soon the neighbors will start inviting THEIR friends and family. There are no limits to it. One of your neighbors could drag along 5-6 friends that you've never met.
Also, God forbid you forget to take the flag down and go to the store or out of town. Can you imagine??!!
Here's what is wrong with the flag: Pretty soon the neighbors will start inviting THEIR friends and family. There are no limits to it. One of your neighbors could drag along 5-6 friends that you've never met.
Also, God forbid you forget to take the flag down and go to the store or out of town. Can you imagine??!!
Haha yeah good point. The way it worked with our friends it was more like people who KNEW them could come over. And most people always called first.
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. Seriously though, it's nice of you to let neighborhood kids swim in your pool, but these people are taking advantage of your hospitality, and I bet if something unfortunate were ever to happen when one of their kids trespasses in your pool, they'd lawyer up and sue sue sue despite the fact that you're not liable for injuries to trespassers, legally speaking.
