Is this ridiculous?

[sparklerainbowglitter]

DD, 13, has just announced that for her school swimming lessons they are allowed to wear shorts and T shirts over their swimwear if they are uncomfortable with their body. AIBU or is this just ridiculous ?

Its far from ridiculous, school children can be horrid and bitchy and mean.
Yes people look different, I'm sure teenagers understand this but it doesn't make them any less judgmental.
Especially at 13 when they are developing and their bodies are changing, if its a comfort to them to cover up then why not, at least their exercising!

Notyetamummy we had an awful PE teacher I had a d&c at 12 and had periods all over the place she used to love humiliating girls like myself. Unfortunately dd2 is the same with her periods but has brilliant PE teachers.
Our swimming pool wouldn't allow wearing clothes unless for lifesaving lessons.

YABU - making young children feel comfortable enough to exercise can only be a good thing surely?

I can see both sides. When we had to sit on the side of the pool, I used to brace my arms so I was supported on them and my dreaded thighs were hovering in mind-air and therefore not squished to make them look 'fat'. I still have good strong arms, but it would have been kinder to a chubby 9-year-old who hadn't got used to her body changing shape so fast, to let me cover up a little.

Being uncomfortable with your body in a teenager isn't necessarily a sign of deep-seated problems - sometimes it's because you are changing so fast and childlike attitudes haven't caught up with your worryingly adult body. That's one reason some girls become anorexic - they want their widening hips and breasts to shrink, because it is scary to suddenly be recognized as grown up when you're not.