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.

The think lagoon.

😄

Unlikely. They'd have to scale the "double height" stair gate first.

I need the laugh emoji!

I'm thinking the biggest risk might be the Loch Ness monster...

Even if the sea near your house OP is, somehow, free from any of the usual risks associated with the sea anywhere else, you don't seem to have considered the risks to pre-schoolers in the home with no adult supervision. As someone who has worked with children for many years I could tell you some horrific stories of household accidents. Even the most compliant, well-behaved pre-school aged child can occasionally do something completely random, unpredictable and unsafe. A lot can happen in half an hour. It's not ok for children that young to be left in the house alone.

No doors at the side or back? Just three solid walls and all doors and windows facing the Lagoon?

And of course you will swim with your head up facing the house at all times?

You seem to be determined that all would be well, and that you must swim together rather than take turns, so you make your choice.

Massive chance it will be fine, as it probably was for families on the Portuguese coast, until Madeleine McCann. You never realise until it happens.

But you do what you want. Personally, I wouldnt

No, absolutely not and I’m a very relaxed parent.

You can never tell when a young child will wake ever! Even the best sleepers wake up with a fever, nightmare, toilet, noise….

Also what if something happened to you, it dosnt matter how young and fit you are, how safe the water is anything can happen. We have 2 young children at my DDs school, when they were 2 & 6 when their young fit healthy mum in her early 30s went to bed had a heart attack and never woke up. No!

remember Madeline McCann!

There are so many times I’ve wanted to pop to the local shop when my DCs have been asleep but I haven’t because if something happened to me while I was out, no one would know my kids are at home alone.

I’ve been in houses like OP describes in LA. Just a door, maybe two very small high windows at the front, then the entire back is glass, deck and ocean.

The OP describes a house with only doors and windows facing the think lagoon, nothing at the back.

Even think lagoons have tides, though there may be little height difference between high and low tides. Only think lakes don’t have tides. And think rivers, I suppose, assuming they’re not on a think estuary.

Just do back stroke away from shore so you can see the house (difficult when holding hands romantically) and doggy paddle coming in so that your head is above water at all times.

we go on holiday regularly to somewhere that sounds similar - our own Think Lagoon. It’s not title, never any waves and you have to walk a hell of a long way for it to go beyond waist height. Still wouldn’t leave the baby alone though.

Personally I think it's fine but I'm 57 and things like this get worse.

Maddie is all I'm saying nothing these days is worth any risk.. Aside from that a random house fire.. Burglary anything just NO!

Probably so they can have a quick bonk in the sea! Can't see why else it couldn't be taken in turn.

There was a certain family did exactly this in Portugal. Children left sleeping whilst parents were close by. Not worth the risk.

YABU! What happened to Madeleine McCann when her parents left children and went out for dinner. Leaving preschoolers alone in the house with opened windows - like you playing with fire. This is NOT acceptable

You're being ridiculous. Take it in turns. You can't go in the sea alone, but you think you're children should stay in the house alone?
Idiotic.

We live near the sea and the search and rescue is called out for swimmers on our local beach several times a year. They are almost always over-confident idiots who think they know the sea.

Go separately! It doesn’t matter whether it’s a sea, a lagoon or a swimming pool. You shouldn’t leave young children unattended - full stop. What next? Going for a romantic walk around the block because you can always see the roof of your house and ‘fire is the only risk’??

Fire is not the only risk! Your DC could wake and become distressed; wet themselves and all for you; get up and fall; vomit; have a seizure (like a friend’s 4yr old did); touch something they shouldn’t…..the list is endless!

I thought you were gonna say your kids were teens, but preschoolers? Just no way.
Totally unreasonable to leave them alone at that age

You’re completely reasonable to WANT to - there are many things concerning children or life that we may want to do - but generally common sense, kindness, care prevent us acting upon them! Pre school children would have no clue where you’ve gone - and “ never” waking doesn’t preclude someone ringing the doorbell ( I’m guessing you’ve heard of the McCanns?!) ; a fire or frankly anything disturbing them. NSPCC advises children are rarely mature enough to be left alone at all pre 10 let alone for so long. As others have said take it in turns - or are you more concerned about your own safety than your children’s? If you’re so confident that a friend would step in to cover your neglect after half an hour if you drowned/ got in an accident why can’t you ask them to sit as a favour and return the favour another time?

I’d say take turns. I remember reading a story where a woman went to the shop down the road while her kids were sleeping. When she returned her house was on fire with her kids inside. That’s a worst case scenario but butter safe than sorry!

Have a child minder, then no problem. But leaving the children on their own while you go & have fun is totally wrong. Or if you have a partner, take it in turns so someone is in the house with your very young children & could also raise the alarm if something happened to you. You come indoors & partner can go into the sea. You have children you must always put their safety first.

Just ask the friend to pop in for 30 mins from the start?

YABU it's one of the most obvious polls this year and to be honest if I was a close friend or family member I'd be confused why you'd consider it.

Jesus christ this can't be real?? It'll be tapas and drinks next