It’s bikini weather. For my 5-year old, anyway. At the indoor pools at Leroy Springs Rec Center in Fort Mill, SC. Tis the season when the kiddies start getting cooped up day after day. Today, we got going early with a chilly dip into one of the center’s three indoor pools. While our 2-year old was suited up and ready for action, he opted to stomp his bare feet in the puddles and hurl dive toys at his siblings. Our 5-year old – yes, wearing a bikini – and 7-year old hung out in the entirely manageable “middle”-sized 2-3 foot pool. The large pool was occupied with lap swim, which, while annoying to my older son, meant that I could keep a closer watch on them.
If you’ve never heard of Leroy Springs, it’s a throwback to the community rec centers that I recall from the 1980’s. I affectionately call it “Gym 1.0,” a no-frills, old-school, cinder block structure, that with those three indoor pools, makes the $62 monthly fee for a family membership an affordable place to play. Don’t get me wrong – I love the Y – but their membership has become, ironically, out of reach for many families that I know.
Before we (and by we, I mean my kids) got in the pool, I took advantage of the on-site childcare for a quick cardio workout. After all, for me, bikini (and by bikini, I mean the latest in Miracle Suit technology) weather is just a few short months away.
I was a little dismayed that when I came back promptly 30 minutes later, my 2-year old was still wearing his winter coat (??!). While he can’t really communicate, the older two gave me an earful about how the two “providers” sat and talked to each other and ignored a request from my son to reach a toy on a shelf that would have required them to get up. I wasn’t expecting Montessori, but come on. The whole thing bugged me so much that I called the director later in the afternoon. She was, naturally, appalled and apologetic, and promised that this would be addressed ASAP.
While I can’t say that we’ll be back to the childcare center any time soon, we’ll definitely be back to visit those pools.
For more information, visit: http://www.leroysprings.com/
