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 went to a local charity pool, specialising in teaching adults to swim. Small, one to one in a private pool, so look around your area as there might be something that's not in a big municipal pool, and therefore more comfortable for you. I had to do mine as I work in a school with a pool and at the interview said I was happy to take a water skills/lifeguarding test. I passed, I'm so proud of myself, the achievement will out weigh the embarrassment, do it OP.

I didn't learn until I was 20. A friend taught me when we lived in hospital accommodation and discovered we could access the hydrotherapy pool at night 😁 Since then I've gone on to teach a number of my friends to swim too.

If you can float your almost there go for it and good luck.

Thank you mn for a kind kick up the arse. Might learn without telling anyone and surprise DH when I (hopefully) get good at it. Just imagining myself getting in and perfecting the butterfly 

I can't make it bold on the app...

I came on to say, that's what my mum did. She didn't tell my dad and went for lessons while he was at work. His was was amazing. She did it so she could crew, and race, with dad in his dinghy.

Oh, ha, I just came back to this thread to see people are slagging me off for my smug I Don't Care That I Can't Swim comments. I'm not smug I don't think, I just don't really care.

Firstly, I CAN drive, whoever asked. And DP likes swimming and has always taken the kids quite happily. I had to take them to all the crap ball pool parties and play dates and tennis lessons etc, etc, so that was his contribution, he's not a saint. I've taken them to the boring weekly swimming lessons and sat on the side many many times and been encouraging, if that helps.

I'm just trying to say that not being able to swim is not the huge, massive, oh my days, deal being made out here. I don't go near swimming pools or water at all if I can help it, and my family find hotel holidays with crowded swimming pools and crowded beaches dull and annoying, we like walking and exploring towns and doing other fun stuff.

Non Swimmers of the World Unite and Take Over.