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Original poster

My first ever swimming lesson at the age of 38 TONIGHT

132 replies

ofHardey · 14/06/2022 17:05

Eeeeek. I am absolutely shitting it!

But I'm going to do this for my 3 girls.

Any tips for absolute beginners very welcome !

OP posts:
BaaCake · 14/06/2022 17:06

You should be incredibly proud of yourself.
My main advice would be to put the towel on top of your clean clothes in the locker so it's easy to get hold of.

Original poster
ofHardey · 14/06/2022 17:07

@BaaCake excellent point and duly noted 😅👌🏼

OP posts:
BaaCake · 14/06/2022 17:10

Oh and tie your hair back if it's long

skgnome · 14/06/2022 17:10

that’s great!
enjoy it! If the pool you’re going allows towels and other things at poolside bring your shampoo/conditioner with your towel, so you don’t have to go back to your locker
take a water bottle with you
go to the toilet just before you go in
if your skin is dry bring moisturiser for ALL your body

gogogadgetgo · 14/06/2022 17:11

Yay! Have fun.

Haha I was going to suggest leaving the towel out by the pool as I've seen a lot of swimmers do. But definitely towel on top

Pound coin for lockers, leave in conditioner for hair from all the chlorine.

But mostly have a brilliant time!

skilpadde · 14/06/2022 17:11

Brilliant, good for you!

I was a terrible swimmer as a kid, then avoided it for many years, but a book on swimming technique helped me to find it as pleasant as taking a stroll.

You're getting proper lessons, which is a much better idea, so there's no useful advice I can give you, other than to enjoy it!

Original poster
ofHardey · 14/06/2022 17:15

Thanks for all the lovely encouragement everyone!

My heart is in my throat, I'm abit anxious by nature when it comes to certain things and I had three fears this year that I wanted to face head on... this was one of them!

Also I almost drowned in the shallow end while pregnant with my third dc and I promised myself after that I would learn to swim regardless of how much I have to push myself out of my comfort zone !

OP posts:
Ncwinc · 14/06/2022 17:15

My mother did this for me and my siblings when I was a child. She’d have been about 36. I was so proud of her for doing it.

Ejk1990 · 14/06/2022 17:17

Aww well done! Hope it goes well 🙂

pigwood · 14/06/2022 17:18

Wow that's really great ! Enjoy

mynameisnotmichaelcaine · 14/06/2022 17:20

Bloody good for you OP! Remember to be kind to yourself. You WILL make progress but it might take time.

ElderflowerAccordian · 14/06/2022 17:21

Amazing! Good luck!

Watto1 · 14/06/2022 17:21

Dh took swimming lessons as an adult. He was like you - he wanted to do it for our dc. We had been on a holiday where the kids had to take it in turns to come in the pool with me as I couldn’t look after two toddlers in the pool by myself and he was too scared to come in with me. That holiday gave him the shove he needed and he booked himself into adult swimming lessons. He was very nervous but he did it. Now he’s first in the pool on holiday!

Good luck and well done for doing this . You can do it!

Spitescreen · 14/06/2022 17:23

Good for you, OP. I can’t swim in my late 40s and am also planning lessons. Let us know how you get on.

Mariposista · 14/06/2022 17:35

Good for you OP! Your kids should be proud of you!
Relax and know that even if it’s uncomfortable and unnatural, nothing bad can happen. I recommend wearing a swimming cap. Stops hair floating about uncomfortably (and pritects the hair and keeps the water cleaner too).

Oioicaptain · 14/06/2022 17:39

Don't wear a white swimsuit! They can turn see through in the pool.

If you lie on your back, pull your chin up so that you can see the ceiling behind you. That will keep your stomach up and stop you from sinking.

Walkingtheplank · 14/06/2022 17:40

Wishing you the best OP.

I took swimming lessons around 8 years ago. I felt bad that I couldn't join in with my husband and children. I was nervous but the teacher was lovely - we still stay in touch.

I swim several kilometres every week now. Changed my life.

Good luck.

BaaCake · 14/06/2022 17:41

You might like goggles

Igmum · 14/06/2022 17:41

Good luck and good for you 👍

AdaColeman · 14/06/2022 17:41

Have a super time!
I learnt to swim as an adult, as I'd never had the opportunity as a child.
The first night was playing about with floats, but as everyone was getting out of the pool at the end of the class, the tutor called to me to push my float away and swim across the pool.
So I swam on the first night, and I swam a mile by the end of the course a few weeks later.

It's an amazing sensation to swim, and it was a great hobby for me for many years, and something I could do with my son.

So have fun and enjoy the new experience tonight!

Original poster
ofHardey · 14/06/2022 17:41

Laying on my back !!! 😫😫😫 That sounds like something I won't be able to do for a few years haha ! About the white swim suit ooooh thank God mine is black 🫣

OP posts:
PissedOffNeighbour22 · 14/06/2022 17:48

Following as I'm also 38 and cannot swim. I've only once had the nerve to try to do something about it and they cancelled all adult swimming lessons at the pool. Gave me an easy way out and I've not looked into it since.
I have 2 very small kids and don't want them seeing me scared of water. I remember my mum being terrified of water and it definitely affected my views.

GOOD LUCK!!!

Spitescreen · 14/06/2022 17:50

AdaColeman · 14/06/2022 17:41

Have a super time!
I learnt to swim as an adult, as I'd never had the opportunity as a child.
The first night was playing about with floats, but as everyone was getting out of the pool at the end of the class, the tutor called to me to push my float away and swim across the pool.
So I swam on the first night, and I swam a mile by the end of the course a few weeks later.

It's an amazing sensation to swim, and it was a great hobby for me for many years, and something I could do with my son.

So have fun and enjoy the new experience tonight!

But how? You were already able to swim, you just didn’t know you were???

ScarlettOHaraHamiltonKennedyButler · 14/06/2022 17:53

I'm jealous. I can't swim at all and would love to learn but just don't have the time or energy. Sitting waiting for the DC at their lessons now and wishing my parents had bothered to send me for them as a child.

Good luck!

Soontobe60 · 14/06/2022 17:57

Myself and my sister taught our grandma to swim when she was 60! You’re never too old to learn. Well done OP x

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