Mom jokes about how pool time becomes bath time with kids in summer, sparking debate

In this era of social media's dominance, several light-hearted opinions are taken too seriously. Especially when it comes to parenting, hundreds of people gather to criticize parents for raising their kids in the way they like. From their meal choices to slightly unhygienic practices, everything gets condemned nowadays and even gains traction. That was the case for a running coach and a mom, Neely Gracey, who goes by @neelysgracey on Instagram. All she did was share her playful outlook about summer and it caused a fierce debate in the comments. While some took it frivolously, others had some serious opinions to offer.

In a brief video, the mom shared three pictures of her family enjoying their time in the sun. Standing next to a swimming pool in their swimsuits was the mom, dad and their two kids - all grinning from ear to ear and having a fun moment. However, what caused the debate was the mom's lighthearted joke. "Happy 'the pool counts as a bath,' season to all who participate," the text overlay read. "Please tell me I’m not the only mom who is celebrating," the mom added in her caption. While she playfully intended to say that during summer, swimming pool time compensated for the bath time, many couldn't fathom this thought. The video garnered over 9 million views and most responses were quite critical of how unhygienic pools are.

"No way, man. Pool day means it is definitely a tubby night for my kiddos. So gross - chemicals, sunscreen, sweat, pee, salt, etc.," said @chani.diller. "I never want to shower harder than after a long day at the pool or the beach," pointed out @josiemaida. "Please bathe your kids before and after swimming to reduce the chances of feces-passed microorganisms spreading, thank you. There are quite a few of them that cannot be killed with chlorine alone," suggested @horsegirl.stereotype. "Dude, do you really think the pool is a bath? We are not in ancient Rome," quipped @nnnnniiicole.

However, a few users rallied around Gracey's joke and backed her up saying that she just meant it in a fun way. "I can’t get over the fact that with all the incredible things you’ve done, this is the thing that went viral," said @fastwomen. "Oh my Gosh! People take things so seriously these days, but I love summer and all kinds of pool days and showers. Live and let live!" added @detroitdiamondgirl. "I feel like this is satire and people didn’t realize it," chimed in @footwearfashionista. 

Speaking of moms being judged, a mom sparked debate online after sharing a peculiar confession about how she gets her son ready for school. Ms. Rachel—who goes by @msrachelforlittles on TikTok—revealed a trick to get her son ready for school. "I dress my little boy for school at night. And when he wakes up, we just throw on sneakers," she said. Though she had taught her son to wake up and get dressed by himself, this idea saved a lot of time. While many found this trick effective, others pointed out that she was being an imperfect parent.

You can follow Neely Gracey (@neelysgracey) on Instagram for more family and fitness content.