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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:
ShamefulPlaceMarker · 04/12/2015 23:02

My ds has lessons in a hotel pool, no other people are allowed in the pool during lesson time. Plus, I have a 2 year old to watch whilst ds is having his lesson. Also I go swimming with both dc at another time, where I play with them in the pool but certainly do not swim.
Also, I hate swimming in a pool!

rookiemere · 04/12/2015 23:03

Usually when DS had his 30min lessons I'd be pelting out a 20 min run on the treadmill- much more efficient for calorie burning.
Plus if I did go swimming DS wanted to splash around afterwards - was freezing after 5 mins whereas quick run and shower pool didn't feel so glacial.

BoomBoomsCousin · 04/12/2015 23:07

I can't be assed swimming for 20 minutes. I go for an hour three times a week while the kids are at school. I'm not going to pay £s to faff around for a few minutes just because they're in the pool at the same time. I'd rather pay attention to what they're doing or post to assanign threads on MN.

NurseRoscoe · 04/12/2015 23:15

I love swimming but if my child was at a swimming lesson I would want to be there in case they needed me, and to watch them to take an interest in what they are doing. There could be many reasons why a parent wouldn't want to swim. YABU sorry

Dornan · 04/12/2015 23:32

No response from the OP

SomethingPhishy · 04/12/2015 23:33

No public swimming 4pm-6pm term time weekday nights while lessons are on where DS goes.

Hope this helps.

MyNameIsInigoMontoya · 04/12/2015 23:44

Balls to that. When the DCs are in, the pool is roped off so you can only swim about 15 metres each way, and that only if you're prepared to dodge all the people having private lessons. Plus, then we'd have three wet, cold people to sort out at the end, in a rush before tea/bed - much easier if I can help them get dry and dressed without having to join them.

So it's chairs and magazines all the way for me. If/when I want to swim, I'll take 40 mins uninterrupted time in a full-length pool with lanes and only myself to worry about thanks! (Or a wetsuit and a lake, on occasion...)

bedraggledmumoftwo · 05/12/2015 00:09

I pay for an adult swim every week
Sadly with dd2 only just turned two I barely get the bottom of my cossie wet but we get to wave at her sister

QuintShhhhhh · 05/12/2015 00:14

All lanes used for lessons during my sons swimming lessons, so no leisurely swims for anybody. (when he did go)

If I was well, I used the 30 minutes at the gym connected to the leisure center, with a window overlooking the pool. Him swimming, and me on the elliptical trainer.

I can swim. We use to swim as a family on the weekend, unless we go hiking or cycling.

Satisfied?

hibbleddible · 05/12/2015 00:38

Parents aren't allowed to swim while their children are in the lesson at our local leisure centre: they are expected to stay by the training pool, and are not allowed entry to the main pool.

Birdsgottafly · 05/12/2015 01:28

Because, I don't particularly like swimming but it's a life skill we should teach our children, if they are capable.

But mainly, because I've done my hair and makeup for the day and unless Chris Hemsworth has got into difficulty and needs mouth to mouth (or mouth to anywhere), I'm not getting in the water.

Original poster
talkiinpeace · 05/12/2015 13:47

I went to bed early because I had to go to a meeting this morning.
Yup, OK, IABU for all of the reasons above.
still find the mums at my pool v irritating though

OP posts:
TartanHussy · 05/12/2015 15:03

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

hampsterdam · 05/12/2015 15:13

Maybe if you stop judging them and realise they are living their lives and probably trying their best they will irritate you less?

I thought swimming was supposed to relieve stress? Maybe you need more than 20 poxy minutes op if what people you don't know you can have such a negative impact on your life that you need to start a snark thread about them.

shutupandshop · 05/12/2015 15:17

Are you high on clorine ok op?

shutupandshop · 05/12/2015 15:17

Just the mums?

buntingbingo · 05/12/2015 15:19

Because I already know how to swim. The pool is closed to adults. I don't fancy it. It's a faff to get us all changed. I enjoy watching them do their lessons.

Original poster
talkiinpeace · 05/12/2015 15:20

Yeah, I'm fine.

I'll just look the other way when I walk past the yummy mummy ladies who lunch buying frocks while their kiddies have lessons at the pool I use

and remember that most parents are not like them (thankfully)

OP posts:
howabout · 05/12/2015 15:28

If you can swim why do you pay for lessons? I just taught my lot myself, but as I was only interested in making sure they don't drown rather than training Olympians I accept I may be lackadaisical on the lifeskill front.

Laughing at pp and her Dad learning piano together. I fear I may be even worse as I taught myself and then taught the DC. They are now beyond me with a proper teacher though. If we had all had lessons together with a pub treat after I would probably be a concert pianist by now Grin

TheWitTank · 05/12/2015 15:30

I've already done my calorie burning at the gym, weightlifting club, horse riding, walking the dog and working. I quite like 20 mins doing fuck all at the side of the pool. Look beyond the end of your nose op. There are plenty of reasons why others don't swim during their kid's swimming lessons, one being it's none of your business.

Moving15 · 05/12/2015 15:31

Swimming at 7:30am on Saturday mornings is very appealing to my two boys but very unappealing to me

Notimefortossers · 05/12/2015 15:33

At my DD's swimming lessons it wouldn't even be an option for me to get in the pool. The entire pool is taken up by 5 classes of up to 12 children. But I don't sit at the side on my iPhone (actually I don't have an iPhone) I sit at the side watching my children's progress while feeding the baby constant snacks to keep him happy. Am I ok OP?

DancingDinosaur · 05/12/2015 15:35

I'll sit on the side thanks and play with my phone. Sorry if you find the choices I make for myself irritating. Smile

Iggi999 · 05/12/2015 15:36

You are so judgemental. If someone has shopping to do, why the heck not do it while DC are gainfully employed, freeing you up to talk to them later? Do you stand outside the school hated staring at them, or perhaps get on with your life during that time?

hampsterdam · 05/12/2015 15:36

How do you know they're buying frocks? Maybe they are doing a weeks shopping on line? Meal planning, paying the childminder or other bills? Surely if you're swimming 5 miles in the pool you can't possibly know what these women are doing with their phones?

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