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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

if you are paying for swimming lessons, you should swim

172 replies

talkiinpeace · 04/12/2015 21:20

You are coughing up good cash to pay for your kids to be strong and confident in the water

so why do you sit at the side, bone dry, playing on your phone

Use that 20 minutes to burn a few calories and make it abundantly clear to your kids that their lessons are worth something
and plough half a mile

all else is hypocricy

OP posts:
SarahSavesTheDay · 04/12/2015 22:21

Does this apply to all lessons, or just swimming?

LizKeen · 04/12/2015 22:21

If I am in the pool swimming (with DD2 btw, who is 3...so not a lot of swimming happening, just walking around in the water) I can't watch my DD1 swimming.

That means I can't keep a check on her progress, or give her meaningful praise and constructive criticism (gently) when she gets out. I also then don't know what to work on with her when I take her swimming (just me and her) for practice.

Do I occasionally look at my phone? Well yes, if I get a second when DD1 is waiting her turn at the side of the pool, and DD2 is behaving. So shoot me. Hmm

eatriskier · 04/12/2015 22:24

I am that mum waves

Several reasons:

  • I'm not allowed in the pool during lessons but I'm required to be poolside in case DC need the loo/cba to swim/etc.
  • This is the same for parents of at least 6 other classes - literally no space to get up and walk, which I would be doing if I could - my kids copy my pacing around the living room...
  • Pool is so busy my DC are trapped in levels too low for their ability and its effing frustrating - ignoring and looking at phone means I'm not going to clobber anyone
  • This is the same for at least 25% of the other parents

and mainly:

  • my MIL was insistent they learnt to swim so she pays and often ferries us there and back. had I asked in AIBU saying I thought she was a bossy cow I'd be shot down in grabby flames.
LizKeen · 04/12/2015 22:24

Does this apply to all lessons, or just swimming?

Good question.

Do I have to ride a horse while shes at her riding lessons, or can I spare the poor horse and sit that one out? :o

DinosaursRoar · 04/12/2015 22:26

SarahSavesTheDay - good question. I don't swim while DC1 has a swimming lesson. I don't run around in the mud during his rugby lessons either. And to show just what a crap mummy I am, I didn't do any jumping up and down during his trampolining classes.

IonaNE · 04/12/2015 22:27

Because a pool full of kids is my idea of hell?
When I swim, I go to the olympic size one, fast lanes only.

Hoppinggreen · 04/12/2015 22:28

Oh Crap, do I have to do Taekwando with the kids?
Not sure that will work with my dodgy hip.

WorraLiberty · 04/12/2015 22:29

YANBU

In fact I'm swimming now.

if you are paying for swimming lessons, you should swim
StepAwayFromTheThesaurus · 04/12/2015 22:30

presumably it applies to all lessons. So expect a whole host of 'AIBU to expect the over competitive dads to let my DS actually get the ball at rugby tots?' type posts when everyone catches on that they're bad parents for standing around having a chat rather than getting stuck in to whatever the activity is.

MovemberSucks · 04/12/2015 22:37

I pay for lots of different activities, I don't do any of them. I don't like rugby or football, I don't think my pelvic floor is up to trampolining, the kids use all the tennis courts for their lessons, I don't bloody well want to be a brownie again, I'm too fat weak in my upper body to go bouldering and public swimming pools set off my psoriasis. But even if I could do the activities I wouldn't, sitting still with a coffee and a book on Kindle on my iPhone is a rare luxury and I don't feel any need to justify myself.

MimsyBorogroves · 04/12/2015 22:38

Because my DS swims at a private gym for his lessons. I can't afford another £40 a month to get in the pool.

I don't look at my phone for 30 mins though. We are literally on the pool side, so there are lots of splashes.

Gileswithachainsaw · 04/12/2015 22:40

cos I'd look like a tool swimming next to a bunch of kids in their lessons. parents go in the gallery.

why would you pay for a session you can only use half an hour of.

treaclesoda · 04/12/2015 22:41

Well this is a strange thread Confused

cheesetoastiesrule · 04/12/2015 22:42

As pp have said, all 3 pools are taken up with lessons when my DD goes so it's not an option.

Crikey, judgey much OP? You are conveniently ignoring the reasonable explanations everyone is giving.

LumpySpaceCow · 04/12/2015 22:44

Because I enjoy watching my DD swim and seeing her progress- I couldn't do this whilst swimming lengths!

clairemum22 · 04/12/2015 22:45

We're not allowed in! Although I guess that's not what you're getting at. swimming is a life skill, and the one activity my DC are made to do. As it happens I like swimming and am fairly competent but that's beside the point.

sharoncarol43 · 04/12/2015 22:45

because it would have been impossible financially?

Because it would have been impossible logistically?

because I always wanted to see how the DC were doing?

because it was an opportunity to talk to other mums, and in fact I made many good friends at the poolside, which wouldn't have happened if I'd been in the water.

Because I'm a runner not a swimmer?

Because I don't want to?

What a weird thing to take offence at. Should really tell you to bugger off and keep your nose out of things that have nothing what so ever to do with you, but this is such a pointless meaningless thread i can't be bothered.

TiredButFineODFOJ · 04/12/2015 22:49

What did the bone dry iphone tapping land-lubber parent do to you, op?

MidniteScribbler · 04/12/2015 22:49

Because they won't let me drink champagne in the pool at the swimming lesson.

Or let me skinny dip.

Inneedofachat15 · 04/12/2015 22:50

I took my dd swimming from 3 weeks old. I took her swimming every week at least once. In the summer we swim between one and six times a day, she is part mermaid, no fear of the water and very confident under and on top of water. I've sent her to swimming lessons from aged 3. I think it's important she learns from someone else too, and to learn correct strokes and breathing techniques. She has swum without armbands etc from 2, swims underwater brilliantly, can swim 8 laps of a 25 meter pool without stopping from what I do with her, and her swim teachers help. But yes on her swim lesson I do sit on pool balcony and watch!

SparklyLeprechaun · 04/12/2015 22:51

Because I don't fancy paying £5 for 20 minutes swimming when I can swim at my gym. And I quite enjoy watching DCs learn. Oh, and I don't have an iPhone, I'm more of an Android girl.

Iggi999 · 04/12/2015 22:52

As the OP is normally a sensible poster I can only ask - are you on glue Talkiinpeace?

BessieBlount · 04/12/2015 22:55

Eh, because I can already swim and it's a vital life skill we all should learn. Because I don't bother to join in any of their other activities. Because once every 3 wks or so I'm needed for a toilet trip. Because it's a half hour of calm in which to read my book.
What a ridiculous statement. Hmm

FaFoutis · 04/12/2015 22:56

Only the children are allowed in the pool when there are lessons. I suppose I could jog on the spot but it is hot in there and I'm not interested in burning calories. I don't own a phone either.

Are you pissed off with a particular group of mothers at your swimming pool OP? What else have they done?

PerspicaciaTick · 04/12/2015 23:00

OP would be escorted from the premises if she attempted to plough a mile during my DC's lessons. What with there being no adult swimming at the time.