What fresh hell this is. Forget the fashion nightmare of the school gate. I have to deal with the style nightmare of having to go in the SCHOOL POOL..

[moodlumthehoodlum]

I've just read a letter from ds' Reception teacher.

"we like parents to accompany their children in the pool after school on a Wednesday"

I'm a size 16. I've just sussed the whole school run fashion dilemma. I'm simply not ready to bare all in a swimming costume in front of the other reception mums.

P A N I C

[TheBalladofGayTony]

reply back ' thats nice, i like to have a cup of tea adn a biscuit on a wednesday after school'

[orangina]

IN the pool? Not just TO the pool, or BY the pool?

(Agree, would be in a hair removal tizzy on top of everything else).

Can you send ds's father instead?

[MadameOvary]

Tell them you're allergic to chlorine.

[moodlumthehoodlum]

DH was LOL when he was asked so I think that's an unfortunate no.

High proportion of sun tanned gym bunny mothers in DS' reception class, so my pale size 16 frame and general lack of aqua ability will end up with me just beaching on the side of the pool.

Semi-fortunately I did buy a new swim suit this summer, so at least I have an option apart from my 5 yo maternity swimmie.

I think I win the MN prize for least appealing thing to be doing at 3.15pm today don't I?

[AboardtheAxiom]

OMG that sounds hideous! I am always of the school of thought that I won't miss things like swimming because of body hang ups, but that's where I am unlikely to see nyone I know - with everyone from school seeing my pasty celulite?? {shudders at the thought}

[CatIsSleepy]

eeek

am with orangina, would be in a panic about hair removal!

oh i would not be happy

[LouLovesAeroplaneJelly]

I have to do this. Either say you are unable to swim or wear boardshorts. Asda do cheap ones. Oh and I am size 20 so don't worry.

[muddleduck]

Do no parents at your school have to work at this time?

This would make me really for several reasons.

[thirtypence]

Now that's just not acceptable. The request not the idea of you in your swimsuit. I've been in a minority of one (think it may have extended out to 2 now) in another school thread about suitable punishments and the delicate little 5 year old ego. My take is the school gets to tell the child what to do when they are there. But I draw the line at telling the mothers what they should do at 3.15. I would imagine the most they can insist on is active supervision. Which is standing there basically.

[moodlumthehoodlum]

Its hellish. And theoretically optional. But having neglected DS' swimming almost completely until now, I think I need to go at least a few times.

Have dealt with the depilation ishoos. Have reasonable painted toes. Now, just a miracle tummy tuck between now and then and I'll be sorted..

[moodlumthehoodlum]

and, the theory is that there are enough non working mums at this time of day, to look after the children of the working mums, so you can ask another mum to take your child for you. But as I know no-one, and DS can't really swim, that's not really an option for me.

But, maybe, that will mean that no-one else turns up

[Theochris]

I feel for you, how horrid.

I'm really panicing now for when my eldest starts school. It seems like they are always asking for mums to come in for something. I work and whilst I could make time for the school play and the occasional assembly regular swimming would be a no go.

What about SAHMs with younger ones too?

My mum was a SAHM in the 70s and I don't remember her coming into my primary school during the day once (certainly not regularly) other than to pick me up if I was ill.

Still good luck, well done on doing the defluffing, I would be frantically waxing

[thedollshouse]

Lol at GayTony.

I wouldn't do it. Ds has swimming lessons once a week and goes swimming with dh every week so I wouldn't feel too guilty about refusing this.

[brimfull]

god I'd be getting a job straight away

[Hassled]

Wear a long baggy teeshirt over your costume. You won't really be getting the top half wet anyway.

I think I would rather curl up into a ball and rock gently.

[moodlumthehoodlum]

LOL ggirl steady on, don't want to make any rash decisions

If you have younger children, you can bring them in with you, but poor dd, who is older, will just have to watch.

The more I think about it, the more I think it will be an occasional event..

[UnquietDad]

You have got to be kidding.

[moodlumthehoodlum]

If only.

[Smithagain]

If it's after school, frankly I'd politely decline the offer and take your kids swimming somewhere else! At a time that suits you and with a much smaller risk of meeting anyone you know!!!

(Am size 18 and can think of several fellow mums I'd prefer not to reveal my armour-plated, yet still bulging costume to!)

[nomorexcuses]

What about telling them you'd love to, but you didn't clear the CRB check ;), & then quietly escaping as that triggers a whole new dicussion topic on what was clearly a horrible idea anyway?

[moodlumthehoodlum]

LOL

And, I forgot to add that I also work occasionally at the school, so this is actually one of those dreadful dreams when you wake up and think "oh god how awful, I dreamt I had to wear my swimmies in front of my colleagues and the school run mums" except in my case its an actual semi hellish after school activity not just a nightmare..

[Amandoh]

Well if this isn't a reason to home-ed then I don't know what is!

Like others have said though, it's unlikely there'll be many other parents there simply due to the time of day. That would be my excuse anyway.

[Smithagain]

So, how did you get on? Not as bad as expected, or worst nightmare come true ?

[moodlumthehoodlum]

We were late, and left before the session ended so I was spared the horrors of changing with everyone in the smallest communal changing room you could imagine. There was nowhere to hide, but at least it was just me & dcs

And my towel got soaked before I'd used it so I literally speed dressed whilst soaking wet, whilst DS had a complete paddy because he wanted a shower which was never going to happen.

And I'm not joking, apart from me largeing it up as a slightly albino hippo, everyone else was no more than a size 12 (at most).

The only saving grace is that now the normal school run that I do fully dressed seems like a walk in the park, style wise.

[purpledreamer]

Your brave!! there wud be no chance id do it , its bad enuff i have to look at my wobbly bits, i wuddnt inflict that pain on anyone else