My family was there for two days and one night. We went down as part of a small group that was doing an event down there for the group. We got there on Saturday early afternoon and stayed the night and left late this evening. I had nursed my 17 month old several times throughout the facility.
I have to say, that the last impression that someone leaves with you is the one that stays with you, and the entire trip home I have been upset about what happened.
We were eating ice cream (ok, DH and the boys were since DD has potential dairy allergy). We were sitting at the tables outside of Bear Claw Cafe, where you purchase the ice cream, and it is also close to the indoor water park area. DD2 wanted to nurse, so I nursed her. I am usually fairly well covered, even though she does not like anything touching her mouth area while nursing. From where she is latched on to where my shirt is, there is maybe a 1/2 - 1 inch area of exposed skin. There is no nipple showing, nor areola showing, just some plain old skin. I would also say I had been nursing for about 5 mins at this time.
Well, this lifeguard walks out of the pool area and over to me and basically says if she gets me a towel will I cover up. I was very shocked, surprised, etc and was not ready for that comment. I replied No, that even if I tried to cover up my daughter would pull it off and drop it on the floor. (We have never really nursed under cover, and she doesn't not tolerate her body under blankets, so doubt she would want her head and upper body under a towel. I swear, the girls mouth just dropped to the floor when I said that. I then commented that it is illegal for her to do anything in the State of Ohio.
The lifeguard then walked over to the other one standing at the door (we are talking we are maybe 20 feet from the entrance), and talks to her for a second, and then goes back in. A few minutes later she reappears and looks towards us and is talking to the other guard again. I sensed there was about to be a problem, so I decided I was going to be proactive and head it off from the start.
I calmly tell my husband and DS's that I will be right back and go upstairs, while still holding DD2 and nursing her, and go to the check in counter and ask to speak to a manager. When asked what I needed, so they knew which manager to contact, I replied that I felt like there was about to be an issue in the water park and wanted to head it off before it started.
I spoke with the aquatics manager, and the whole time she just passed it off as being 16 year old girls and not knowing better. That they had to "go look up the law". (Ok, mind you this is at 9 pm at night...where in the middle of the water park are they going to look up a law that is in the Civil Rights statutes in Ohio.) The manager assured me that they would inform the girls of the law. (Basically sort of felt blown off, and that was trying to be smoothed over to prevent an issue.)
I went downstairs, the boys were done, daughter was done, picked up our two bags and headed back up the stairs to leave. I really didn't want to stick around any longer after that, even though we could still have used the water park and the Magi Quest game. As we are heading up the stairs, at the top if the 3 managers on duty. The aquatics one looks (and I sort of thought the others did as well), and they start talking about what happened.
We still have two days left on the MagiQuest game we purchased, we planned on taking the kids back down Tuesday night if they behaved, since it is spring break. But now I am not so sure I want to go, as DD2 will want to nurse while there.
I will write a letter, because I want to make sure this issue is addressed. I am sure they have done this to countless other nursing mothers, but because they are not from Ohio, did not know their rights or were unwilling to have a scene caused about it and just stopped or covered up.
I have to say, that the last impression that someone leaves with you is the one that stays with you, and the entire trip home I have been upset about what happened.
We were eating ice cream (ok, DH and the boys were since DD has potential dairy allergy). We were sitting at the tables outside of Bear Claw Cafe, where you purchase the ice cream, and it is also close to the indoor water park area. DD2 wanted to nurse, so I nursed her. I am usually fairly well covered, even though she does not like anything touching her mouth area while nursing. From where she is latched on to where my shirt is, there is maybe a 1/2 - 1 inch area of exposed skin. There is no nipple showing, nor areola showing, just some plain old skin. I would also say I had been nursing for about 5 mins at this time.
Well, this lifeguard walks out of the pool area and over to me and basically says if she gets me a towel will I cover up. I was very shocked, surprised, etc and was not ready for that comment. I replied No, that even if I tried to cover up my daughter would pull it off and drop it on the floor. (We have never really nursed under cover, and she doesn't not tolerate her body under blankets, so doubt she would want her head and upper body under a towel. I swear, the girls mouth just dropped to the floor when I said that. I then commented that it is illegal for her to do anything in the State of Ohio.
The lifeguard then walked over to the other one standing at the door (we are talking we are maybe 20 feet from the entrance), and talks to her for a second, and then goes back in. A few minutes later she reappears and looks towards us and is talking to the other guard again. I sensed there was about to be a problem, so I decided I was going to be proactive and head it off from the start.
I calmly tell my husband and DS's that I will be right back and go upstairs, while still holding DD2 and nursing her, and go to the check in counter and ask to speak to a manager. When asked what I needed, so they knew which manager to contact, I replied that I felt like there was about to be an issue in the water park and wanted to head it off before it started.
I spoke with the aquatics manager, and the whole time she just passed it off as being 16 year old girls and not knowing better. That they had to "go look up the law". (Ok, mind you this is at 9 pm at night...where in the middle of the water park are they going to look up a law that is in the Civil Rights statutes in Ohio.) The manager assured me that they would inform the girls of the law. (Basically sort of felt blown off, and that was trying to be smoothed over to prevent an issue.)
I went downstairs, the boys were done, daughter was done, picked up our two bags and headed back up the stairs to leave. I really didn't want to stick around any longer after that, even though we could still have used the water park and the Magi Quest game. As we are heading up the stairs, at the top if the 3 managers on duty. The aquatics one looks (and I sort of thought the others did as well), and they start talking about what happened.
We still have two days left on the MagiQuest game we purchased, we planned on taking the kids back down Tuesday night if they behaved, since it is spring break. But now I am not so sure I want to go, as DD2 will want to nurse while there.
I will write a letter, because I want to make sure this issue is addressed. I am sure they have done this to countless other nursing mothers, but because they are not from Ohio, did not know their rights or were unwilling to have a scene caused about it and just stopped or covered up.
and I wouldn't take any crap off of anyone.
.
