I honestly can't believe this happened today. I never thought this would ever happen. I brought my five year old to his big sister's class. He wanted to climb in the jungle gym they have for littles just inside the main gym. He wanted me to watch and I, him. But, we soon discovered that he was on his own and for the 30 minutes we paid for. I couldn't see him from the upstairs bleachers, with the ridiculous garage doors they keep parents behind but figured all was well.
After 30 minutes I came to collect him. He was bawling. The front desk lady who brought him to me thought he had played (happily?) in the structure and if anything was sad it was that there was no one else to play with.
My son, however, tells me he was told he couldn't play where he wanted, which was confusing, and was sad I couldn't watch. He said he got scared and found a place to hide. He's so scared, he's shaking. He's hysterical and clinging to me. I asked if he ever played or had any fun. No. I'm immediately offered my $4 dollars back. But, this is so much bigger than that.
When I ask to speak to the person in charge of making the decision to not allow parents with their littles in an area not interrupting classes, the window from reception to the gymnastics floor opens. Who I assume to be the owner sticks her head and part of her body through to tell me she is really busy with her girls but is talking to me also. I tell her why I'm upset and am still holding the scared, clinging kid. She says it's a requirement by the national gymnastics association/organization that parent's can't be out on the floor. She uses the claim that he's just upset because there was no one to play with. She is quite dismissive. Offers my $4 back and thanks me for my "comments."
I'm disgusted. Why have that jungle gym if little kids can't have their parents nearby? I never thought a jungle gym would turn into a nightmare for my son. I don't think I should trust my son to be alone with the staff. And I find the owner to be incredibly insincere, uncaring and unprofessional.
What's more, I fully expect her to respond to this comment as she has with all the negative comments. And this is because a feigned public apology is far more important to her image than a genuine private one. read more