To go swimming in the sea whilst the kids are in bed?

[Maezzle]

We live by the sea. It is fifteen metres through the garden from the door to the edge of the water. It is a safe place to swim and we are good swimmers.

Are we unreasonable to go for a fifteen minute swim once the kids (preschool) are asleep? They never wake. We would have a friend lined up who would come and babysit if they don't hear from us after half an hour (in case of shark attack or other unforeseen event)!

Basically the only risk is a house fire. We would not have any appliances running and the house would never be more than 30 metres away and in full view. Window open so we'd hear smoke alarm.

I feel like this should be acceptable as it's basically like having a swimming pool in your garden. But for some reason I feel it isn't okay, but I don't know why!

What would you do?

YABU you should be locked up for even thinking of it.
YANBU it's just like a swimming pool, it's fine.

YABU

You can take it turns surely, one of you stay in the garden and the other swim then swap?

No. Your DC are way too young to be left. Why can't you take it in turns?

I'd say it's nothing like a swimming pool unless you fill it with sharks, tides, jellyfish etc.

Can you take turns? So there's one of you on hand immediately should you be needed rather than an arbitrary 30 minute rule for someone else?

Yabu sorry - the potential for a horror story is just too great, even though I don't think you sound like a bad mum or anything xx

I'd say it's unwise. I feel you need someone in the house while you're gone.

I feel like this should be acceptable as it's basically like having a swimming pool in your garden. But for some reason I feel it isn't okay, but I don't know why!

Because it's the sea! It's unpredictable.

Is this a real post?

Are you joking?

You say "we" - just take it in turns!

You can't leave pre schoolers alone while you leave the garden to go sea swimming, no.

And I'm way more chill than most people about leaving DC alone but even I wouldn't do that. Especially not if there was another adult to tag team with.

Just get a babysitter and then go

In my morbid mind I can imagine you drowning and the kids touching things they shouldn't do.

If a preschooler wakes up and is distressed not to be able to find you, half an hour is a really long time.

You want permission to leave your preschoolers plural unattended in the house?

You wont get it from me.

Why would you risk it?

Yeah of course the sea is just like a swimming pool in your back garden, we all have the ocean in your back gardens right?

Are you serious? Tell me you’re not.

Yabu, if your friends would come over in 30mins why not just have them come around and be in the house or take it in turns

Yeah they be fine

You absolutely shouldn't do this.

Far too young. Once they are like 12 ok.

If I was the friend you’d ‘lined up’ then I’d be calling social services. You simply can’t leave children, especially ones so young, alone and vulnerable. You’re both insane and selfish.

You speak as though there is more than one of you. Take turns.

It only takes a few seconds - minutes for something to go wrong. There is more risk being in the sea (unpredictable, more risk of an accident or unexpected currents) vs a swimming pool.

I'm all for enjoying the garden while in sight/earshot of a baby monitor. But I think being in the sea (AKA not in sight/earshot) is a step too far and a risk not worth taking. You'd have no idea if one of the children had woken up, hurt themselves, was unwell, if there was an intruder, etc... and what if something happened to you? You need to anticipate the absolute worst case scenarios. Statistically, the risk is low... but there's still a risk and I guess you probably wouldn't forgive yourself if something happened.

I’ve seen that movie, it doesn’t end well.

This is insanity. The sea is nothing like a swimming pool

It also seems madness to inconvenience a friend every time you want to go swimming, who essentially has to be on call in case you don't respond, rather than just going swimming one at a time

The ‘edge of the water’ is 15 metres from your back door? I don’t believe you.

No, obviously don’t do this.