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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:
Mrsfrumble · 04/02/2015 21:58

DS is 4 and has never drawn a recognizable picture. When presented with art materials he just scribbles then loses interest after about 30 seconds. DH is an architect and I'm an art school graduate, so we're slightly dissapointed. He can't write his name either, despite the short version only being 3 letters long.

He can carry a pretty good tune though, and has awesome Lego skills.

Charlotte3333 · 04/02/2015 21:59

ES is shit at being a rational human being. He's like Diana Ross with his diva fits. He is, however, hilarious and the kindest boy ever. Unless you touch his Lego, in which case you deserve everything you get.

YS is shit at being 4. 1,2 and 3 were a breeze, he turned 4 and realised he had free will and will slowly and very deliberately do the precise opposite of what I've just asked/told him to. He's good at smelling delicious, though, and every night when he's asleep I sneak in and sniff him as I tuck him in, mostly to remind myself that I'm actually quite fond of the little bollock.

BertieBotts · 04/02/2015 22:00

Oh and also shit at backing down when run into a corner. Unless it involves physical danger from another child. Totally unbothered by potential physical danger from me and DH (which, I suppose, is something to be glad about!)

I really hope he grows out of attempting to fight us to the death before he gets taller than us...

fluffylaw · 04/02/2015 22:03

My eldest is shit at physics but brilliant at art
My youngest is shit at sitting still/listening but brilliant at swimming.
My DH is shit at household chores but brilliant at pointless computer games.

bigbluestars · 04/02/2015 22:13

No I don't think along these lines. If I do start to I remind myself how lucky I am.

www.careforkatielou.co.uk/story/

Longdistance · 04/02/2015 22:24

Dd1 is shit at running. It's more of a flapping hands skip thing, she's 5. But, I have high hopes for her swimming, she's like a fish, and is getting through her swimming badges like a trooper.

Dd2, is a rubbish swimmer, but she's only 3.5. Dd1 was more advanced at swimming at that age, dd2 just sort of floats. Dd2 is a brilliant runner, and ashamedly has a great right hook Blush I think she'll play rugby like dh as she's solid with it all too.

hiccupgirl · 04/02/2015 22:39

My DS is 5 and is shit at swimming too. After a year of lessons he can swim the grand total of 1m while mouthing 'I'm drowning, save me' over and over. His friends who started at the same time can swim 10m confidently by now.

He's also crap at running though he thinks he pretty damn amazing.

But he is amazing at numbers and maths (takes after DH), is kind, caring and very funny. Also gives the best boy cuddles ever Grin

fattymcfatfat · 04/02/2015 22:53

my ds (6) is shit at listening to me!
and at playing sonic the hedgehog. ..I used to love sonic at his age and he cant even pkay it??? but he can play every other game??? hes also really good academically so cant really complain.
dd is 13months and shit at sleeping
and shes shit at being nice to her brother who is lovely to.her! she just enjoys biting and smacking him, she does make me laugh though and she is a very good dinosaur lol

Noggie · 04/02/2015 23:01

Dd2 is uncoordinated which means she falls more than most 6 year olds- she just seems to lose concentration and goes splat onto the pavement:( she is however able to remember anything and everything!

vixxx666 · 04/02/2015 23:08

5yo is shit at dealing with his emotions but is very clever academically

2yo (who'll be 3 this month) can't drink out of a cup, isn't very steady on his feet and is shit at using a fork or spoon, but he's amazing a jigsaw puzzles and has dinosaur knowledge to rival that of most kids his age!

StayGoldPonyBoy · 04/02/2015 23:14

DD is crap at being crap. She is the world's worst sore loser, doesn't know how to deal with not being able to do EVERYTHING and can't be wrong, ever. She's always been the same, she was that baby who would scream at and bash you because she couldn't walk yet.Grin Though to her credit, she is hilarious, gives the best cuddles and is exceptionally gentle when brushing mama's hair for her.

TheLondoner22 · 04/02/2015 23:19

My DS is shit at not crying, he is shit at not crawling - however he is an excellent bum shuffler!!!!

PomBearWithAnOFRS · 04/02/2015 23:30

My no2 son is shit at tying his laces. He will be 21 soon, and has always steadfastly refused, point blank, to learn to tie laces Confused The weird bit is that he has owned shoes with laces - football boots, his kitchen shoes he's a chef and so on, but he just "does the thing" with the laces and they end up somehow tucked in and away without actually being tied... he is an excellent chef though Grin
My three youngest are shit at tidying up, picking things up, putting things away and doing anything I ask them do. They are good at other things though, and all three of them taught themselves to ride bikes in about a day, with zero input from me. I just looked out to see what they were doing as they whizzed past in turn, on friends' bikes, and then we got them their own and off they went Grin

VitoCorleoneAgain · 04/02/2015 23:33

My DS1 is shit at reading. He's fantastic at drawing though and has a brilliant imagination

ImBatDog · 05/02/2015 00:28

ds 8 is terrible at writing, sitting still and being quiet, he can't hold a pencil for toffee, but he's awesome at reading and a computer/minecraft whizz.

dd 5 is useless at remembering things, she'd lose her head if it wasnt screwed on, but she's a gorgeous little ray of sunshine and her smile would melt any heart! in fact she's so adorable, the school had to ask the other students to stop picking her up and hugging her!

EstellaUsm · 05/02/2015 07:49

DD has really rubbish handwriting but is fab at being lovely and is also both academic and sporty.
DS is painfully shit at swimming so we gave up. He also refuses to learn to read. But he absorbs facts like a sponge and apparently is amazeballs at golf.

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 05/02/2015 07:52

Well. My child can't speak. Can't run that well. Can't play games or have friends or swim or read or write.

But she is amazing

BikeRunSki · 05/02/2015 08:22

DS (6) rubbish at remembering stuff and eating. Brilliant at spelling and there is nothing he doesn't know about Lego or a Star Wars.

DD (3) rubbish at waking up happy and letting gown ups help her. Fantastic at laughing, colouring and eating noodles.

dottydandan · 05/02/2015 08:30

DD1 is painfully shit at eating without saying NO!!!! And throwing it on the fooor/ turning her face so I end up jabbing her in the eye with swede etc. But is otherwise amazing at life.. She was born at 25 weeks, weighing 850g and spent 6 months in NICU but she's miraculously come out of it all relatively unscathed and is super clever.

DD2 is shit at not pissing all over her clothes/the bed every time I change her nappy (she's 2 weeks old) but is amazing at sleeping and drinking her milk Smile

WaroftheRoses · 05/02/2015 08:42

I know I am missing the point of the thread a bit-but I really believe some people just aren't designed for swimming! My kids were also totally shit-we spent thousands of pounds and thousands of hours trying desperately to get them to swim! They hated going under water and half drowned when they did. Exactly the same as DH and I when we were young. But then I would see families where all the adults and kids just bobbed around naturally, never coughed and spluttered, whatever the age (think toddlers just walking who swam better than my 8 yr old!). I think people are built differently and somehow when they go under water the water doesn't pour down their nasal passages into their trachea like it does for us crap swimmers-because usually the issue with swimming is the fact that you can't tolerate being under water. But, I think people can be taught to control it-breath out at the right time etc-as now my kids are older and began swim at school as well as having lessons they seemed to get it-and now are even in swim teams!?!
all based on my extensive knowledge as an anatomist of course Grin

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 05/02/2015 08:44

I went swimming from babyhood
Didn't actually learn until 7. Then swam in swimming competitions. So all is not lost :)

flowersinthewind · 05/02/2015 10:02

My 10 yr son is good at all the school subjects apart from PE where he fails dismally he takes after his mother Grin

shypetal · 05/02/2015 10:04

I love this thread......
DD is a TERRIBLE singer (which doesn't seem to dampen her enjoyment of it!). However she is a fab sister to her baby brother, really caring and responsible Smile

shypetal · 05/02/2015 10:06

I love your post, really sweet. Funnily enough my 3 month old DS has the same abilities as your baba ;-)

jeee · 05/02/2015 10:11

DD, aged 10, cannot skip. A skill which is normally ticked off at the EYFS. She gullumphs along, looking like a somewhat uncoordinated baby elephant.