Do you live in a seaside town with teenagers?

[MerylSqueak]

We live in a town with two beaches and two rivers people swim in. I now have a 16 and a 14 year old. Until now, I've kept a quiet eye on them from a distance when they're at the beach but realistically if they go to town with their friends there's a good chance they will end up swimming even if I say no. It's what all the kids do.

They can both swim and they've both been taught multiple times what to do in rip tides and a bout cold water shock. There's only so safe this will keep them though.

So far, I've told them that they have to swim where there are lifeguards and that if I find out they're not they will be grounded for a month. I've said no to rivers.

What would you do in my position?

I think you’ve done what you can. Life comes with risks, you’ve done what you can to protect them. Now they’re getting older you need to let them go a bit. It’s painful. Your can’t control them forever.

I'm, my kids went on their own (I mean without an adult) to the beach from age 12. They are sensible though. I can't imagine not allowing a 16 year old not go!!!

It is tough letting them grow up isn't it OP? Whether they live near or far from beaches and rivers there will always be mischief to be made as adolescent boys (and girls).
I think generally those who grow up near bodies of water are probably more aware than those who are not.
When my son was 16 he was a sailing instructor on the Mediterranean and was responsible for ages 6 and up in their tiny optimists on the open sea. I wasn't worried because I knew he could handle it. But when he was age 6 I was! Don't mean to stealth brag... but the sooner they learn to be responsible for themselves the better.

My 14 year old has been taking weekly sea swimming lessons since 9 years old (between April and September) 1. mainly because he's autistic and it's amazing for his mental health and fitness / well being but 2. So I know a professional open water teacher has instilled the rules and safety of open water in him better than I could (I didn't grow up by the sea like DS - I just like looking at it!)

Not sure there's much else I can do really. Hope for the best that he will be sensible.

We went to a lot of trouble to make sure our DC learned to swim around age 3-4 for this very reason. As teenagers, they are now very confident swimmers.

You can't order teenagers to stay out of the water and expect them to obey. What you can do is invest in lessons to make sure they are as safe as possible in the water.

Thank you for you replies. It's good to have your opinions.

The 16 yo has never wanted to go alone. The 14yo has been champing at the bit for years.

I've been trying to get him into surf lifesaving but the waiting list is ages long. Fortunately, his best friend goes and his other friend us a sea cadet so they should be pretty sensible.

Of course it is hard if not impossible to stop them from jumping from high columns onto the trampoline and doing flips into the pool with all their buddies but hey, that's part of it. Life is dangerous.