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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think Saturday swimming lessons will be a bit miserable?

131 replies

MerryBeret · 03/04/2025 08:55

DT (reception age) previously had swimming lessons but their teacher moved away and they got cancelled and we took a while to find an alternative, but spaces have now come up.

Previously it was before they started school so lessons were day time (late morning). Obviously that's not possible now they're in school.

We've been given a choice of 11 or 1130 on a Saturday or 5:30 on a Friday, and have to sign up for the full summer term.

530 on Friday will mean we won't be able to eat as a family any more, and the logistics might be slightly tricky as we also have a younger DC. It feels like it will end up being a bit of a rush, and also maybe not ideal when they're tired at the end of the week.

But I'm also loathe to give up my Saturday mornings - it means we can't go away for the weekend, or have a full day out somewhere without them missing swimming (and paying for two lessons they don't go to). The times feel like they're a bit too late to do anything beforehand, and then going out afterwards in the afternoon is also a bit tricky because of younger DCs naps. I don't know if it feels worse because it's summer and I want to have the freedom to just wake up on a sunny Saturday and go to the beach etc if we want?

Aibu about feeling annoyed about committing to this every Saturday, or will it not bother me at all once I'm in a routine?

YABU - just go for the Saturday lessons
YANBU - make Friday work so you can keep weekends flexible

If anyone wants to comment on swimming lessons and logistics and the least painful way of doing this, please do as I'm welcome to any advice! I think it's the having to commit to several months in advance that's making me concerned about it, as it's a long time if it doesn't work out.

OP posts:
Bloompetal · 03/04/2025 08:57

just find another company
both times are shite

Bloompetal · 03/04/2025 08:58

We did 1-2-1

brilliant and they progressed very quickly

stargazer02 · 03/04/2025 08:58

Just stay on the waitlist til a preferred slot comes up and start taking them swimming yourself for now to keep up the skills they've already built?

Bloompetal · 03/04/2025 08:58

And much more say over time!

pimplebum · 03/04/2025 08:59

Pay for private lessons in a block over the school holidays ?

I think if swimming as a life skill that it my duty to teach I’d suck it up for a term and then take a break
we go away still and miss lessons for birthdays etc

napody · 03/04/2025 09:00

stargazer02 · 03/04/2025 08:58

Just stay on the waitlist til a preferred slot comes up and start taking them swimming yourself for now to keep up the skills they've already built?

This- mine didn't start til yr 2 and 5 (pandemic pushed it back a bit) and they progressed fast as they were stronger and more able to follow the lessons. Agree with the first poster: both times are shite!

Bodonka · 03/04/2025 09:01

We do Saturday morning lessons, and originally I felt the same but MY GOD I actually really love them 😂 Might be different with multiple children, but I love having a cosy chai in the cafe whilst scrolling mumsnet/watching DS through the windows/doing any life admin. I also find it doesn’t really impact our ability to go out for the day, we just leave straight from swimming. I normally do my faffing/tidying early on a Saturday anyway so from sitting down in the cafe it really feels like the weekend is beginning. Ours are a little earlier than yours though!

LaPalmaLlama · 03/04/2025 09:01

It may be that you just have to take the bad slots now and then waitlist to be moved as better slots come up but personally I’d go for the Friday lessons. Most swim companies offer free slots to existing students first IME so you’d likely have same issues with other providers.

TimeForATerf · 03/04/2025 09:02

Half light hearted

All kids lessons are miserable and boring and go on for years and years, part of being a good parent is sitting through stuff like this and cheering by them on whilst wishing you were somewhere else.

Just wait until you’re either stood for hours on the edge of a freezing cold football pitch in the driving rain every Sunday morning or on the coach to a random dance competition 60 miles away for the whole of every Sunday. You’ll look back on those Duckling lessons and think what a breeze they were.

I would do the Friday 😀

TheWayTheLightFalls · 03/04/2025 09:02

I’m seven years into swimming lessons with various children and my conclusion is that all times, days and locations are shit. Choose the least shit one and carry on.

I think my peak was 08.30 am on a Saturday but even that was crap.

LavenderBlue19 · 03/04/2025 09:02

We do 5.30 on Fridays because I didn't want to do Saturday mornings. It works for us - I don't work that day, so I pick up from school, DC has a sandwich at 4ish, and then I do quick beige dinner when we get home from swimming.

It sounds like Saturdays would work better for you - you could always skip the odd lesson if you want a day out. Younger DC wont be napping forever. Or you hold on for a better time.

PrincessAnne5Eva · 03/04/2025 09:05

We had Saturday morning swimming lessons for a year while DS was in reception. The time itself wasn't an issue and if we were away we just let the leisure centre know that we wouldn't be in that week. What I didn't like was the Starfish curriculum was just DS being pulled up and down by a teacher, sometimes blowing bubbles, then jumping into the pool at the end. For a year. And DS got very bored. Eventually I pulled him out but it's put him off wanting to go anywhere else and try again. So I'd recommend checking what they actually learn at that stage and maybe observing a lesson if you can (some pools have an observation area) before committing to losing your Saturday mornings.

elliejjtiny · 03/04/2025 09:06

This is the thing as they get older unfortunately. I always try and do activities like that in the school holidays because it works better for us. Although now my 16 year old does park run on Saturdays.

CheesePlantBoxes · 03/04/2025 09:07

Id make friday work. Kids usually have a second wind after school. As someone who did weekend swimming lessons, yes, it is a massive ballache making everything else work around it and you do begrudge it because you inevitably sit around waiting to go and then it takes time to get them changed afterwards, sort out lunch and half the day is gone, all for a 30 minute session.

Losing one teatime in seven days wouldn't bother me. Make it fun in its own way by making it pizza Friday or something.

pointythings · 03/04/2025 09:08

I feel some sympathy, but not a lot. My DC had Saturday morning swimming lessons. And whichever level they were on, it always ended up being the 8.30 am slot. It changed every term and it was 8.30 every single time. For years.

HippyChickMama · 03/04/2025 09:10

Dd has 5:30 lessons, though not on a Friday. How long is the lesson? Dd has 30 minutes, dh takes her and I stay home and make dinner for 6:30 when they get back. It works for us as dh works an early shift while I do 9-5 and wfh a lot but appreciate that wouldn’t work for everyone

GoldfinchesInTheTree · 03/04/2025 09:12

I wouldn't do Friday. I prefer Saturday to after school personally.

Kids are less hyped up from school/overwhelmed etc and more focused.

Iateallthechocolate · 03/04/2025 09:12

Depends on the child. If they are not too tired after school then feed early and go Friday. If school tires them out then the earliest one on Saturday is better

Original poster
MerryBeret · 03/04/2025 09:13

napody · 03/04/2025 09:00

This- mine didn't start til yr 2 and 5 (pandemic pushed it back a bit) and they progressed fast as they were stronger and more able to follow the lessons. Agree with the first poster: both times are shite!

Show quote history

Oh interesting, it feels like the whole of the rest of their classes have been in swimming lessons since the start of reception, or earlier, so they'd be quite behind if we left it any longer, but maybe it's fine if we wait and see if better times come up in September? I've been feeling guilty about neglecting an essential life skill so it's good to hear I'm not the only one.

OP posts:
Original poster
MerryBeret · 03/04/2025 09:15

CheesePlantBoxes · 03/04/2025 09:07

Id make friday work. Kids usually have a second wind after school. As someone who did weekend swimming lessons, yes, it is a massive ballache making everything else work around it and you do begrudge it because you inevitably sit around waiting to go and then it takes time to get them changed afterwards, sort out lunch and half the day is gone, all for a 30 minute session.

Losing one teatime in seven days wouldn't bother me. Make it fun in its own way by making it pizza Friday or something.

Sorry, should have said in OP that there are already a couple of week days at least where we can't do family dinner because of work, which is why I feel worse about losing another one.

Pizza Friday is a nice idea!

OP posts:
Katiesaidthat · 03/04/2025 09:15

My daughter does Saturday morning, I prefer it to weekdays which are hectic.

StillTryingtoBuy · 03/04/2025 09:16

Neither time is great but if you really want to keep going with lessons I’d take Friday and go on the waiting list for another day in the middle of the week at more like 4/4.30 if you can get there in time after school, or look for another provider.

Swimming lessons are a total pain but worth it, your little one will be fine waiting as it’s probably only 30 minutes so just bring snacks / whatever will entertain your youngest and you’ll get through it.

MajorCarolDanvers · 03/04/2025 09:16

That’s having children.

once the swimming lessons are done then it’s gymnastics or football or dancing.

I’ve had a Saturday morning for more than a decade, nor many Sundays. Eve it’s are spent chauffeuring children to extra curriculars

if your children are going to join clubs and have friends it’s what you do.

plus 1130 is practically a lie-in

Original poster
MerryBeret · 03/04/2025 09:18

HippyChickMama · 03/04/2025 09:10

Dd has 5:30 lessons, though not on a Friday. How long is the lesson? Dd has 30 minutes, dh takes her and I stay home and make dinner for 6:30 when they get back. It works for us as dh works an early shift while I do 9-5 and wfh a lot but appreciate that wouldn’t work for everyone

I think it's 30 mins, too. I think the only issue would be that 630 is too late for younger DC to eat, and the person at home would be having to sort younger DC and also cook the dinner etc so not ideal. I guess though we could look at it as doing family dinner just split in two.

The other issue is if I'm in the office on a Friday as then DH would have to take younger DC along as I wouldn't get back in time. I can usually WFH on Friday so it's just working out whether having to do this maybe once or twice a term would be too stressful.

OP posts:
LegoLandslide · 03/04/2025 09:19

We started in year 1, ours are at 9.30 which doesn't clog up the day as much.

We used to have an 11.30 class (not swimming) which was a nuisance and really clogged up the day I'm afraid.

I would probably go for the Friday evening class, assuming that's not the only evening you usually eat as a family, and make that one pizza/freezer tea/traybake night.

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