Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think that my child is rubbish?

176 replies

nevergooglebrandybutter · 04/02/2015 13:17

My children are brilliant at lots of things, but having sat through another painful swimming lesson yesterday where they seem to be swimming WORSE after hundreds of pounds worth of lessons, I fear I have to finally concede that MY CHILDREN ARE SHIT AT SWIMMING.

There I said it. Can we just take a moment to think about this? Why is it so hard to just admit that our kids are crap at stuff.

No stealth boasts allowed (ie, my child is shit at being shit) but you can balance it out with something they are good at to help ease your conscience.

So,
DS1 is shit at swimming, but brilliant at cycling of all disciplines.
DS2 is shit at swimming, but brilliant on the violin and ukulele.
DS3 is shit at feeding himself, but has a very charming toothy grin.

Your turn.

OP posts:
FastWindow · 04/02/2015 19:37

Ds is weirdly shit at walking. He's nearly five and can't stride, just sort of stutters along with tiny steps. His shin muscles must be massive. He's brilliant at reading. And saying I love you apropos of nothing (in for no gain, or to deflect a bollocking) Grin

Dd is shit at being 17mo. Thinks she's five years old :)

BikeRunSki · 04/02/2015 19:41

How many different cycling disciplines are there just out of interest?

Mountain biking
BMX - racing and Street
Time trialling
Road racing
Stage racing
Audax
Cyclocross
Touring
Sportive
Grass track
That's without even going in a velodrome

Original poster
nevergooglebrandybutter · 04/02/2015 19:52

thanks bikerunski.

this thread is oddly very sweet.

OP posts:
BingBong36 · 04/02/2015 20:13

Swimming lessons are very very slow going.

My son is an amazing football player and sportsman but utterly SHIT at swimming and has only moved up 1 level in 2.5 years!!!!

whatmess · 04/02/2015 20:16

ds (2) is shit at accepting help. We argue for 10 mins before he concedes he can't screw the top onto his water bottle or open the packaging on his chupa chups lolly.

Weirdly, he is also shit at playing by himself and needs dd (6) or me to sit with him for everything

He is great at talking and cuddling and kissing and smiling.

Didactylos · 04/02/2015 20:22

DS is shit at football, in that he seems to think its a contact sport
but is excellent at reading, writing, cycling, anything involving building/construction and can draw really well, including in perspective (hes 6, I havent taught him that)

DD - cannot work out what a bottle is for, but is great at screeching, smirking, mangling food and giving great big gummy grins

Mylittlepotofjoy · 04/02/2015 20:30

Dd1 and only utterly useless at dancing . She's tiny and dainty yet used to dancing like an elephant .........now 22 apparently can now dance and drink !!!!

Lovestosing · 04/02/2015 20:32

DS is shit at anything remotely sporty, but is an excellent reader and his one liners have everyone in stitches. DD1 is shit at dealing with or articulating her feelings which is very frustrating but she is very creative. DD2 is shit at being placid or quiet but is very empathic and unlike DD1 has no difficulties in expressing her emotions!

amothersplaceisinthewrong · 04/02/2015 20:33

DS was useless at swimming. Brilliant at rowing though! And amazing at Maths!

dancestomyowntune · 04/02/2015 20:34

Dd1 is shit at self organising but a fabulous dancer.

queeneileen · 04/02/2015 20:34

My DS is shit at writing (honestly, worst handwriting ever. He's 13, I've given up) but he's bloody brilliant at running.

CrazyMrsBtobe · 04/02/2015 20:38

DD at 2 years old is shit at letting mummy and daddy have a conversation but is amazing at tidying up.

She takes plates out the kitchen as soon as they are empty, just working on manners now!

RiverTam · 04/02/2015 20:41

DD (5) is shit at sitting still for the duration of even the shortest meal. She is also shit at going to sleep at what I call a reasonable time (before 9pm).

However, she does appear to be quite good at ballet and has very good balance and is a good climber.

Only just started swimming, time will tell. She likes her goggles, which is something, I suppose.

FionaJT · 04/02/2015 20:41

DD is shit at tennis. Very enthusiastic, but went to a weekly tennis club for a year and still couldn't hit a ball at the end of it. But she is good at playing the violin.

UniS · 04/02/2015 20:45

Don't forget
And ( rather more popular in Germany than UK.)

Not to mention the whole while we are on about cycling
basicly all the above but on one wheel not two, plus unicycle hockey and unicycle basketball.

molyholy · 04/02/2015 20:50

My aged 6 dd is rubbish at sports (swimming, running, gymnatics). Cant ride a bike and has no interest in it. Not too good on her scooter and detests school. BUT she always gives everything a go, has absolutely amazing vocabulary, can hold a decent conversation with anybody and has a wicked sense of humour. We wouldn't have her any other way.

PrincessTheresaofLiechtenstein · 04/02/2015 20:58

I like this thread a lot.

Ds (8) is terrible at cycling, ball games, using cutlery, drawing and dancing. He is good at swimming, understanding difficult concepts in science, LEGO, singing and fantastic at story telling and public speaking.

Dd (4) has a tuneless singing voice and is useless at eating healthily. She is incredibly good at snuggles and cuddles and has great co-ordination generally - dancing, climbing etc.

They both have nice manners with other people and are generally enthusiastic about stuff.

JustALittlePeacePlease · 04/02/2015 21:00

My DS (5yo) is shit at swimming, it took him a year to get from the level 1 to level 2 where he has been since September. He however thinks he has done amazing swimming every week ?? he is also pretty shocking at most sport related activities (dead last in all events at sports day) with the exception of cycling.

He loves to learn new things and is particularly good at reading and science.

My other DS (3yo) has to break everything, nothing can remain intact which leads to more than a few arguments with his brother. He is however very very funny. ??

Nottinghill1 · 04/02/2015 21:02

They may be shit at things ....but hey we are so lucky to have them!!

ReallyBadParty · 04/02/2015 21:07

Mine too. DSS ,dd, and now ds all resolutely refuse to swim properly.

Aaaaargh. And the next person that suggests helpfully how I can get them confident in water, or maybe dh and I should swim with them I will cheerfully scream at.

They love the water; I have taken them swimming since they were tiny and sent them to,lessons; and Dh is a brilliant swimmer and I have learned to be good from him. But. They. Won't. Fucking. Swim.

ReallyBadParty · 04/02/2015 21:08

Sorry, should've said, YANBU!

Vickisuli · 04/02/2015 21:41

DD1 (8) rubbish at spreading toast, cutting up food and believing that she can do maths, brilliant at cycling, drawing, writing, reading, dancing.

DD2 (6) brilliant at most academic things, therefore rubbish at trying anything new in case she can't do it, also rubbish at giving herself a break - gets massively cross with herself if she does something wrong or can't do it.

DS (4) rubbish at putting on shoes, football (and any other ball sport), and drawing; brilliant at reading and mostly importantly cuddles and telling people how much he loves them.

All of them are rubbish at being tidy but they get that from me :-)

Smartiepants79 · 04/02/2015 21:52

My Dd1 is rubbish at bike riding and telling jokes. She makes good cakes and is very creative. She is also an excellent big sister.
Dd2 is a daredevil scooter rider at 2 years old and is proving to be quick with puzzles and numbers. She is rubbish at doing what she is told and really needs to work on that!

jackjacksmummy · 04/02/2015 21:54

My boys are rubbish at tidying up but extremely talented in making a mess Grin

BertieBotts · 04/02/2015 21:57

DS (6) can't ride a bike and is terrible at anything requiring a leap of faith or confidence, which in practice means most new things, but he can speak two languages, the second one learned by immersion over about a year, which amazes me.