Laughter at the Pool: Why I Won’t Kick Out Kids Just Because You’re Grumpy
Picture this: It’s a balmy summer night. The pool is buzzing with the carefree giggles of kids squeezing out the last drops of summer freedom before school resumes. Meanwhile, inside the lobby, our hero—a hard-working front desk employee—faces an unexpected challenge: a guest who’s allergic to joy. Specifically, the laughter of children splashing in the pool. Welcome to the wild world of hospitality, where “the customer is always right”—until they’re spectacularly, comically wrong.
From towel requests to late check-out battles, working the Saturday night audit shift is already a game of survival. But nothing quite prepares you for the moment a “sweet old man” demands you evict children from the pool—not for misbehaving, but for, well, being happy. Honestly, you can’t make this stuff up.
The Poolside Showdown: Rules, Brochures, and Baffled Front Desk Staff
Our story, originally shared on Reddit’s r/TalesFromTheFrontDesk by u/Diligent_Olive3267, starts innocently enough. The night shift is rolling along, as usual: extra bedding here, a towel there, and of course, the infamous “late check-out demanders” (because, let’s face it, nobody ever just “requests” a late check-out). Enter Mr. Sweetoldman, who’s about to turn the lobby into a courtroom drama.
He approaches the desk, clutching a complaint: “When are the kids supposed to exit the pool?” Our protagonist, following the script, replies: “The pool closes at 23:00 for everyone.” But Mr. Sweetoldman isn’t satisfied. He launches into a passionate reading of the hotel brochure—which, he claims, bans all under-19s from the pool after 22:00.
But wait! The twist: the brochure only says under-19s must be supervised, not banished. The kids in question? Very much supervised. Their crime? Daring to laugh. The horror!
When “Happiness” Becomes a Noise Complaint
Now, hotels are no strangers to noise complaints. Usually, it’s thumping parties, midnight karaoke, or the mysterious thuds no one can explain. But this time, the offense is… laughter. Not rowdy behavior, not water fights—just pure, wholesome giggling. It’s the kind of “disturbance” that makes you nostalgic for your own childhood.
Our front desk hero, stationed close enough to the pool to hear every splash, confirms it: there’s no chaos, just joy. “I’m sorry happiness bothers you,” they say (mentally, at least), “but maybe let these kids enjoy their last days of freedom before school.”
The Brochure Showdown and the Art of Hospitality Diplomacy
But Mr. Sweetoldman is not so easily deterred. He returns, brochure in hand, determined to expose the truth. The front desk worker, ever patient, reviews the fine print with him. Yes, the rules mention under-19s and supervision, but nowhere does it say “kick out all children at 10 PM.” The real kicker? The only thing being disrupted is this man’s personal peace.
Finally, our narrator takes a bold step: “Sir, what would you actually like me to do?” The answer is as predictable as it is unreasonable: “Tell them to leave.” Should the parents go too? Should the kids wander the hotel halls unsupervised at night? The logistics alone are enough to make anyone’s head spin.
The Reality of Hotel Life: You Can’t Please Everyone
In the end, the front desk staff stands their ground. Unless someone’s being rude or disruptive, everyone gets to enjoy the pool. Kids, adults, and even grumpy guests—equal rights for all! “I might get fired,” they joke, “but at this point, I really don’t care. I’m thinking of taking next summer off and relaxing, lol.”
It’s a tale as old as hospitality itself: some guests will always find something to complain about. But when the “disturbance” is kids being kids, maybe—just maybe—it’s time to invest in a good pair of earplugs and let the next generation enjoy their summer.
Your Turn: What’s the Wildest Guest Complaint You’ve Heard?
Front desk workers, hotel guests, or anyone who’s ever had to play referee in the pool area—what’s your most unforgettable customer complaint? Share your stories in the comments! And next time you hear the joyful shrieks of kids at the pool, remember: happiness isn’t a problem to be solved.
Let’s keep the laughter going—on both sides of the front desk.
Original Reddit Post: No I'm not kicking people out of the pool because the laughter of children bothers you.