To not take my baby swimming?

[endofmytether22]

I'm having an incredibly hard time at the moment, I'm permanently overwhelmed and exhausted (I have another thread in relationships at the moment which explains most of that).

Anyway. I'm supposed to take my baby swimming on a Sunday afternoon- we pay £60 a month for her lessons. DP is at work this weekend. And I just can't find the energy to take her because I'm so burnt out. I want to sit on the sofa with a cup of tea and cry to myself / cuddle her instead.

She will now be missing the next 2 weeks as well as they're closed for Easter.

Am I shit for doing this? I feel so guilty. What if it sets her back?

Is this unnecessary guilt? I can't work out anymore what's normal.

Oh come on. As if I was taking the piss. I was AGREEING with OP - by using a form of humour called irony- which points out the absurdity of being worried about your baby missing out by not going to a swimming lesson.

OP, I’d only go if you want to. I only took mine for an occasional splash around at that age - when I felt like it, when we were on holiday. Both of mine started swimming lessons at 4.
Cut yourself some slack! If you feel like it, a short walk round the block would be fine - but so too would a say at home if you’re not up to it.

@Confrontayshunme

I HATED swimming with a baby. It was not the bonding experience I expected. I quit after a month, and never took my 2nd child. Both are excellent swimmers. Meanwhile, my SIL has done these ridiculous water classes twice a week since hers were 3 months old (the ones where you just hold them with no flotation or armbands and just drop them occasionally), and neither of them can swim. Just skip it until they are mobile themselves.

The OP has said that she usually enjoys the swimming lessons.

Baby swimming lessons are like every other baby group/ class. If you enjoy them and the baby seems to enjoy them then they're a good thing. If you and the baby don't enjoy them don't do it.

It's fine to miss lessons if you don't want to do it, or would prefer just to go swimming. Do what makes you happy OP.

I did baby swimming with both of mine from 5m, and it's a nice form of water play and doing goup songs etc, but other than being used to water by 4 when they reached Foundation stage, it hasn't given them a head start on learning to swim.

Having an occasional week off to just catch up with yourself is fine- especially when you're adjusting to RTW.

I wouldn't have paid £60 per month though! My two are about £22 a month each at a council pool (obviously subject to avaliability). I'd be looking at family friendly swimming slots at a pool rather than commit to that kind of expenditure and save lessons until about 4-5.

Swimming lessons for babies are really just to help them gain confidence in the water, which you can just as easily achieve by taking her to the pool yourself when you’re feeling better. In the meantime stay home and enjoy a lazy Sunday with your DD.

Cancel the lessons. IF you feel up to it you can always just take her to the pool and splash about

She's not even a year old. She's really not going to be 'set back' by missing one week of being dunked in the water and flapping about a bit. Have a nice chilled day at home with her instead - she will be absolutely fine! You're knackered and you need a rest.