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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To throw DS a swimming party?

109 replies

otinata · 02/09/2025 15:44

He is turning 7, really wants a swimming party.

They do a floats and fun party type thing at the leisure centre, but parents have to get in with their children.

AIBU to ask that of people?

OP posts:
ErrolTheDragon · 02/09/2025 16:00

You’re not BU if you ask the parents to tell you honestly what they think about the idea rather than just booking it. That probably only works if you know them all reasonably well.
tbh it’s probably best left another year or two until they’re old enough to be in the pool without parents. We did a pool party for dd when she was 8, parents happily on the sides.

Bitzee · 02/09/2025 15:59

Between the demand that parents not only stay but have to go in the pool and the fact that not all 7YOs are strong swimmers it sounds awful. I would 100% decline. Best saved for a 9th birthday I think when the DC will be a minimum of 8 and can all go without an adult in the water.

CarpetKnees · 02/09/2025 15:59

I would tell him he could have one when he turns 9, so that all of his friends would be at least 8 and no longer need to have an adult in the water with them.

As a pp said, by 7 parents will generally drop off at parties, so being expected to stay would be annoying / inconvenient enough let alone to have to go in with the dc.

SunnyDolly · 02/09/2025 15:57

I can’t swim so would personally hate this as an attendee 🤣 one of my boys isn’t an especially strong swimmer either.

Q2C4 · 02/09/2025 15:56

I have to wear various stick on medical devices which mean I can’t get into the water so I wouldn’t be a fan of this as my DC would be excluded (unless I could rope another family member into going!).

AllrightNowBaby · 02/09/2025 15:55

Why don’t you ring the Mum’s of the kids you’re thinking of inviting and see what they think?

BarnacleBeasley · 02/09/2025 15:55

I'd probably quite enjoy it, but where I live parents don't normally stay at 7th birthday parties, so some might be pissed off that they not only have to stay, but also have to get in the water.

Billybagpuss · 02/09/2025 15:53

We did that loads of times at that age, they were fun and very easy as parties go.

ShesTheAlbatross · 02/09/2025 15:53

I’d go, because DD would want to. But I’d secretly hate you. If you’ve seen Motherland, Julia’s reaction would be me!

I don’t know the answer to this, but what is the average swimming ability for 7 year olds (plus I assume if he’s just turning 7, he’s the oldest in year 2, so will have a lot of 6 year old friends)? Does he have enough friends who are confident enough swimmers to enjoy it? Like I said, I’ve no idea what the answer to that is, I’ve never been to a swimming party.