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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU to make my son go to swimming lessons on his birthday?

33 replies

ThePendant · 09/04/2013 11:11

His brithday is in the school holidays and he is booked on a 'swimming crash course' (every morning for a week).
This course was part of a deal we did with the boys to stop weekly swimming lessons which were becoming a painful chore.

He is turining 6.
He doesn't hate swimming, but doesn't love it either.
He things it is mean and unfair to be made to go swimming on his birthday.

These lessons are not cheap. And for once they have a great teacher and are making really good progress.
We'll be done at the pool by 9.30 and will spend the rest of the day doing fun stuff.

Cast your votes now....

OP posts:

squeakytoy · 09/04/2013 11:14

Of course he should go.

MintyyAeroEgg · 09/04/2013 11:14

Yanbu.

ThedementedPenguin · 09/04/2013 11:15

YANBU

I'd send him. It's not like it takes all day.

Then do something after he wants to do?

shrimponastick · 09/04/2013 11:15

He should go. It's paid for.

WishIdbeenatigermum · 09/04/2013 11:16

Definitely he should go.

Original poster

ThePendant · 09/04/2013 11:16

thanks.
I hadn't thought twice about it until DS did the quivering lip thing and and DH gave me the "it is his birthday" face :)

OP posts:

ben5 · 09/04/2013 11:18

take him. I don't get my birthday off!!!

specialsubject · 09/04/2013 11:19

it's only another day. He goes.

although I question why it is such a struggle -if he can already swim why are you continuing the pressure?

LoveWine · 09/04/2013 11:22

Is there a reason for you to be pushing him to do these lessons if doesn't want to go?

Original poster

ThePendant · 09/04/2013 11:22

where did I say he could swim?

OP posts:

Original poster

ThePendant · 09/04/2013 11:24

I want him to learn to swim so he is safe around water. Is that weird?

As I said, he doesn't hate swimming, it just not something he would choose to do on his birthday.

The weekly lessons were becoming a chore because they were quite late in the day after school and everyone was tired and grumpy.

OP posts:

fuzzysnout · 09/04/2013 11:29

He'll be done by 9.30. He should go. It's not weird to want your child to be safe around water. It is for his own benefit & will do him no harm at all. He has the rest of the day to do all the lovely birthday things he will really enjoy.

FeckOffCup · 09/04/2013 12:15

I would make him go if it's over that early, that still leaves a whole day to do stuff of his choice.

codswallopandchips · 09/04/2013 12:17

Yes, go! Maybe he can tell his teacher it's his birthday and he'll be made a fuss of?

TrenchCoat · 09/04/2013 12:22

Yes I would make him go as you said he will be done early enough to enjoy the rest of the day.

2rebecca · 09/04/2013 12:33

I'd make him go. He knew it was his birthday during the week when he agreed to go on the course. If it was a school day he'd still have to go to school. You aren't sending him swimming as a punishment, it's a skill he needs to learn.

piratecat · 09/04/2013 12:40

won't they be doing swimming at school, why the need to force him to swim with this intensive course.

I wouldn't expect my kiddy to go for a lesson on their birthday, i would be having a relaxing morning, and definitely not making my child feel guilty because it's 'paid for', it's one lesson and not the end of the world.

Aniseeda · 09/04/2013 13:58

I would probably have let him skive off a weekly lesson (I hated the whole sweaty crush in the changing room, sitting in a hot cafe/balcony with other people's toddlers rampaging around so wouldn't have needed much persuasion to take a week off myself!) but as you came to the agreement to stop weekly lessons and do this instead then, yes, he should go, get it done, and then enjoy the rest of his day.

mrsjay · 09/04/2013 14:03

yanbu and mean but tbh he sounds like he hates it but he has to go it is paid for and so happens to fall on his birthday it is no biggie really an hour out of his day I wouldn't force anymore lessons on him after this block runs out,

shewhowines · 09/04/2013 14:09

YANBU

HotSoupDumpling · 09/04/2013 14:11

Wha? I once was made to do a practice exam paper on my birthday. It's great for your son to learn to enjoy the little things in life - a nice birthday meal, a cake etc - and not be taught that he always has to be 'princess/prince for the entire day'! YANBU

almapudden · 09/04/2013 14:12

He should go. It's only an hour out of the morning, and you can spend the whole of the rest of the day having fun.

CSIJanner · 09/04/2013 14:14

YANBU - make him swim

Think of it as a lesson in life and when he's older, God forbid he'll have to work on his birthday.

thermalsinapril · 09/04/2013 14:15

YANBU

Original poster

ThePendant · 09/04/2013 14:17

thanks all.

I have no idea why some posters are jumping to the conclusion that he hates it. As I said in my OP he really doesn't hate swimming, in fact he usually enjoys it once he is there. He is just a bit grumpy about not being allowed to choose absolutely everything that he does on his birthday. :)

OP posts:

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