My wife (28F) and I (29F) take our son (2M) to the pool every Saturday morning for swim class. After class, I change first and my wife showers our son and then I change him while she gets changed. I changed my son and gave him a snack. He was pretty wiggly and wanting to run all over the locker room. I can’t take him to the lobby or he will cry for mom. So I took him into one of the private changing stalls and closed the curtain half way. The view to the locker room from the stalls is only the sinks in the bathroom. There were plenty of changing stalls available. I turned a YouTube kids thing on the lowest volume and set it on his lap on the chair while I packed the bag. My wife was changing in the main locker room. A lady came over from the sink and told me to put my phone away. I asked if she was an employee. She said no, but I shouldn’t have my phone out in the locker room as there is a sign. I told her we came to a private area so as not to make folks uncomfortable and that I was simply distracting my kiddo while I packed my bags so he didn’t make anyone changing in the locker room uncomfortable by running up to them. I then closed the curtain the rest of the way. She came back about 3 minutes later and opened the curtain and said she was going to call an employee if I don’t put my phone away. I said to leave me alone and just closed the curtain. My wife finished up changing and we left about 5 minutes later and spoke to the employees at the front desk who said the signs are more for not taking a video or voice recording or call, and appreciated that we went to a private area before getting a phone out. I understand peoples concerns in public changing areas but I genuinely don’t think I was the asshole here.
First, I mean this in the nicest way possible. YTA. Having kids doesn’t exempt you from rules everyone else has to follow. Follow the rules. If you can’t, go somewhere else. Put your f-king phone away ESPECIALLY in a god damned changing room where privacy is highly expected. Wtf is wrong with you?
So the fact that she whipped open the curtain is okay?! I would have cleaned her ⏰
YTA. Annie needs videos in the time it takes to get dressed?
YTA. Having a ‘kiddo’ doesn’t exempt you from the rules or entitle you to prioritise your convenience about other’s comfort and wellbeing
Not only did you break a rule that applies to you just as much as everyone else, but you played YouTube in a public space. I don’t care how low the volume was. That is rude and obnoxious. Stop being selfish. YTA.
Yeah like the whole story around it barely even matters. Playing your phone out loud in public is immediate YTA behavior.
YTA, sorry. Good intentions, but even if it’s obvious you weren’t recording/photographing, you were playing videos with the volume on in a public space. Most of the world is an asshole for that one.
Yta for thinking rules don’t apply to you because you have a kid and for resorting to brain rot to control your kid
YTA. It’s hard to tell what other people are doing on their phones. Anyone is who taking video or pics in the locker room could just say “oh, I’m watching YouTube.” That’s why this rule exists.
What? You can’t take him to the lobby with a video, you can only do it in the locker room? And I don’t care if your kid is “wiggly” or wants mom. That is your issue. Go to the lobby or to your car.
YTA.
YTA – it’s just not appropriate usage. You needed to pack up, there’s an opportunity to incorporate him. I have attended so many toddler swim classes over the years and never pulled out a phone in a changing room. Talk to him about the class, have him list colors he sees, do the bare minimum to engage.
Having your child sit passively off to the side with a phone at every mild inconvenience isn’t helping him learn and grow.
People need to feel safe in changing spaces. Nobody knows if you’re facetiming or recording or just playing music, and nobody should have to worry about it.
YTA.
I’m gonna play devils advocate here and say if your kid can’t go a few minutes without having to be entertained with a screen, you’ve got bigger problems.
Dude right???
Seriously lol. Kid is gonna be addicted to screens by the time he’s in school.