To be embarrassed that I can't swim.

[oldmcdonaldhadabarn]

My dc are 3 and 1 and we're starting to get them swimming lessons etc and until now it's only been DH to take them...I feel like total dick that I can't do it and a pretty shit example to my dc. I could probably just about stay afloat but not actually swim.

DH is encouraging private lessons and thinks it's madness to be embarrassed, but I just feel so embarrassed and know he's saying that because he's my DH.

I'm not this bad at putting my big girl pants on with other things but cringing at the thought of an adult teaching me, another adult how to swim. My parents weren't that fussed about it and I had a couple of lessons as a child, that was about it really.

Any advice from people who've done it would be appreciated.

I would love to take lessons to swim better. i can swim but would be happyto improve.

My leisure centre has lessons for adults -so you are clearly not the only one.

Go for it - you may find that you love swimming.

My parents best friend is learning to swim - he's in his 70's, lots of adults in the class.

Go for it

I can't swim. I can go in the pool but not swim.. I often think of lessons but too embarrassed

Lots of places do lessons for adults. I'm sure you could find a place you'd be comfortable with. Good luck!

My mum has done it, she went to a class at the leisure centre for adult non swimmers. Go for it! Don't be embarrassed.

My Dad did it at the age of 55, do it! Don’t be embarrassed and just go for it! As previous people have said, there are beginners lessons for adults too. Good luck!

Don’t be embarrassed!

My dh learnt when we had the dc, he couldn’t swim at all but started swimming lessons at the gym. He also came from a sea side town he’s an excellent swimmer now, much better than me and I’ve surfed

There are plenty of adults learning to swim, and there's nothing to be embarrassed about. If you can't swim, you need lessons. Adult swimming lessons are perfectly normal. Just do it.

Oh please don’t be embarrassed! And you should learn. My mum goes to an advanced swimming course for adults every week, it’s for really good swimmers, and there are 2 people on that who learned as adults and just carried on right through to advanced. My husband can’t swim well but he couldn’t swim at all until he was in his 20s. He takes our toddler DS to lessons every week hoping he might pick up tips! Go for it!

Why would you be embarrassed about going to an adult swimming class. You'll be in the class with a whole load of other adults....who can't swim, or can, but badly. It's not as if other pupils will be pointing at you and giggling.

Don't be embarrassed. My nanna learnt when she was well into her 70s. She took a leisure centre class and everyone was in the same boat and they all had fun.

Check out #swimdemcrew

Embarrassment isn't a very helpful emotion if you let it stop you learning. Much more helpful if you can channel it into practising. It might save your life one day.

Another one here who can't swim. Can't even float. I'm almost 33.
Had lessons in primary school but was told "we can't help you if you won't let go of the bar"
Every summer in holidays my partner tries to teach me. I end up too panicked and embarrassed as there's even children laughing at me

DH can’t swim. He is not embarrassed about it. I think he rather revels in having Saturday mornings (and wet Sundays) to himself whilst I take the DC swimming.

W we are constrained by the type of holiday he can go on, abd he has missed job opportunities because of not being able to swim, but it really doesn’t bother him.

On the flip side, DD’s swimming teacher didn’t learn to swim until he was 36!

A couple of my friends had lessons recently and they're in their thirties. Do it. You won't regret it.

I’ve taken thousands of lessons . Just can’t fucking do it. The last teacher declared me a persistent non swimmer!

I know a woman who learnt to swim at 92. My DH learnt at 57. Don't be embarrassed. Just imagine how much fun you'll have messing about in the pool as your kids get older

What's to be embarrassed about? You can't swim, you are learning. In a couple of years you will know how to swim.

Would you be embarrassed not to know how to ski, how to ride a motorbike, how to dance? No one knows from birth.

I learned to swim as a kid, could manage, but had to learn properly when I went into triathlon. Basically the message was: it's not that you can't swim, you swim like a saucepan. you are to re-learn to do it properly properly. That wasn't embarrassing at all

I cant swim I just dont seem to go anywhere however if I go completely underwater and do it like a mermaid would then I can, very bizarre. I've had lessons too I just honestly dont go anywhere

I've done an group improver class and there was a beginner class too at my local leisure centre. It wasn't embarrassing at all.

Do it!

I didn't learn to swim until I was 59. It was so liberating to learn. When I started i could do four strokes and if have to stop.

Five years later, I could do 40 lengths in an hour.

Sadly I've now had to stop because of issues with my hip.

Go for it. Who cares if you feel foolish at the start? I had nothing but encouragement from the regulars at the pool i used

Would you be embarrassed not to know how to ski, how to ride a motorbike, how to dance? No one knows from birth.

Actually, all humans are born able to swim. Or at least float easily, and paddle until they hit land. Just throw a newborn in the deep end and watch them make their way to the side of the pool. It's a skill that's lost after about 4 months if it isn't reinforced. After that, it needs to be re-learnt.

If you dont learn how can you keep your children safe when they swim? Or are you never going to go swimming with them.

Nothing to be embarrassed about. I’m a very good swimmer, but I learnt at a young age. It’s harder once you’re older. Much respect to adults learning. Go for it. It just might save your life.