to really HATE this about being a parent?

[BobMarley]

Swimming lessons. I HATE it. I hate the changing rooms. I hate sitting in a hot, damp swimming pool. And I find it really dull to watch. And it takes years before they get the hang of it.

AIBU?

See, I don't mind going to the park at all. They mostly get on with it and we have a lovely one that has a cafe next to it so I can have a coffee whilst they play. Also, with the park I can choose when to go. With swimming lessons you have to go at a particular time, which usually isn't convenient as someone already pointed out.

Oh and I agree with whoever said about the craft homework projects for school. They are stooooopid.

Loved swimming lessons. They were only half an hour and there was a nice little cafe where you could look through a giant window and not hear a thing. I also loved watching the DSs become proficient swimmers.

Squad swimming is a whole different story. That got a bit tedious when we got up to 5 hours training a week and competitions every weekend. Luckily DS lost interest just before moving up to the group which added early morning sessions twice a week. Shame in some ways as he had real potential

DCs are 4 and 5 and have never had a swimming lesson. Every so often I think about booking some then I look at prices and times and think again. They go swimming with me every so often and are happy and confident - if they fell in some water I think they'd splash about long enough for me to get them out iyswim.

Think I will wait until they are older and hope they learn it quickly.

ahh, you see going to the park and having a nice coffee whilst they play happily is very different to going to the park and having to play with your own children.

I hate playing.

I am a parent.
And I hate playing.

actually, its the thought of going to the park and having to play. Once I'm there its fine and doing it, its ok.

I suppose.

I HATE, HATE swimming! Before I had children I vowed I would take them as I can't swim and wanted them to learn so they wouldn't hate it as much as I do. Took DD1 a few times and she hated it! However, she is now learning to swim at school (age 5) and DP takes her and dd2 every weekend and they both enjoy it although every week they ask me why I won't come too.

In my defence, dp does nothing else with them on his own so I think it's good for them to go with him, it's the only time I ever get on my own in an average week.

I can't say I love the park or soft play but take them both regularly and I love crafty stuff, reading, cooking with them etc so I've decided to let myself off the guilt over swimming!

YANBU. I hate loads of things like that: doing craft activities, cooking with the children, softplay, SPORTS DAY etc. etc. Unfortunately the children love those things so I'm forced to feign enthusiasm and put up with it.

I hate the damp, muggy atmosphere at the swimming pools here. Sitting in the warm sun at an outdoor pool during swimming lessons in a hot country was never such a chore.

Shodan - no, I have to confess - you have never claimed to love 'The Park', but you do so much with the kids and climb hills and...well... stuff - I was just suprised that you don't like 'The park'

OhForFoxSake - I hate 'playing' too, but I don't mind, lifting, pushing etc - it's like a free gym session!

The pool where we go is a school pool, chairs right next to the pool - nowhere else to go, no cafe, no 'other side' to sit with a book - nothing... just damp, clammy, noisy & boring.

I have to say - all soft play places are not created equally. We used to go to Manic Monsters and it was brilliant, clean, airy, nice kids (mostly), great coffee, lovely food - brilliant babies area and a fab kids area... however, I have also been to some dire ones - so I can see why opinions on this are from one extreme to the other! However, if they are safe enough for the kids to play & they serve decent coffee - I'm happy enough.

I thought that i was the only mother who hated swimming lessons. I find them really tedious. I took dd2 swimming evety week for 18 months and she still can't swim.
I recently stopped taking my dc's to swimming lessons and now get my dh to take them swimming at the weekend. This was fine when there was free swim for kids, but now that the Government have got rid of the free swim, we have to pay over £9.

I REALLY hate school projects, in fact myself and dh have had several arguments over whose turn it was to make a house, build
a boat etc. Dh got so fed up, he started to buy ready made houses, boats from the local craft shop.

Erm, ChippingIn - I think you may have muddled me up with someone else. I don't think I've ever climbed a hill or any similar activities with my kids.

But actually - I'm not above taking credit for it- mwahahaha

Hmm - strokes chin... most unusual for me to muddle people up... wonder how I managed that??

Still - go on, take the credit anyway

The school run
I'd rather eat my own eyeballs...

YANBU

Make it easier for yourself - buy towelling shorts and a top. Dress children in costume and towelling outfit before you go, skip the changing room and afterwards just get them straight into towelling outfit after taking costume off and head straight home.

As for the boring bit, I tend to enjoy a good chat with the other mums/dads/nannies/grandparent to pass the time or go into a kind of trance like state...

hate it as u wish, trust this , ALL KIDS SHOULD BE TAUGHT 2 SWIM FROM DAY ONE ! COS KIDS ARE FACINATED WITH WATER, AND U CAN T BE WITH THEM eEVERY SECOND OFF THEIR PRECIOUS LITTLE SILLY LIVES.

ZOMBIE THREAD ALERT

Is it really utterly and completely unrealistic to expect not to have to send my children to swimming lessons? I say this with the caveat of being a very hopeful first time TTcer and maybe all you parents will snigger at this, years of wisdom allowing you to roll your eyes

But. I'm trying to think when I learnt to swim and I just can't. My parents would (sometimes literally) chuck me in the pool with arm bands on, and I'd happily flap about for hours. Then at some point they took one arm off, and I'd happily flap about in circles, then eventually they took the other arm off and off I swam. Somewhere along the line I parroted what everyone else did, and turned into a very strong swimmer. We had weekly lessons at primary for a while, but I was pretty proficient by then - I remember that much because I would show off because it was pretty much the only sporty thing I was good at

So I guess, being the product of my own experiences, the prospect of actual lessons seems kind of alien. I'm fully expecting to teach them myself and even then - not teach as such, just frolic about and get them up to an acceptable level of water ability.

Of course learning to swim is essential that is why we all do it, week in week out for years mAybelaternowimbusy. Doesn't mean I have to like it.

I also think learning to spell properly is essential...

Weird. Old thread as well.

Gosh I'd forgotten how much I hated swimming lessons. They started when DD was 4 and stopped when DS was 10. EIGHT SODDING YEARS!

Thank Gawd it's over

Why has this thread resurfaced btw?

I don't mind swimming lessons cd's go every saturday morning and it's in a local school so i have no choice but to sit and watch.

What i really hate is that despite the fact their are four changing rooms - all big enough to fit a whole class some parents insist in changing their children in the coffe bar area...why? The coffee area has two external doors it's freezing cold, people are constantly opening doors and walking through and yet some parents let their children run around in the nude and get changed there - why don't people use the changing rooms??

dc even - i don't take cd's with me!

jasas > perhaps , in your opinion, ever> been 2 a kids funeral ? bored i may b , but not so bored to not teach the kids to be safe as they can be around water , when i am not about . it does not matter if i cant b bothered , i am responsible 4 their wellbeing its called resposible parenting >its all i know and yes i am so bloody perfect as regards my kids