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.

Not leaving preschoolers alone in the house for any reason. Not even for a romantic swim in the sea. Unless this is the royal we, take turns.

This.

If you were leaving them alone in the house to go a few doors down for a beer it would be unacceptable.

Just because it all sounds lovely having the sea on your doorstep doesn't make it ok.

The fact you ask the question tells me you shouldn’t be living by the sea with two young children. The next story will be about two drowned children who wandered to the water while left unattended.

Jaws 😂

What’s the point of only going for 15 minutes? Is it actually going to be 15 minutes or would it in reality be longer?
Why do you need to go together- in case one of you gets into trouble?
Can you see the sea from your back door? Can’t one of you go and the other stay by the back door so they can keep an ear on the kids and on the other person at the same time ? Then swap?

Ah yeah okay. I should have predicted that people would think of sea related dangers 🙈 I can't say more without being too outing but it actually is like a swimming pool really. No sharks, no currents, no boats, etc. Think lagoon!

I take the point that you all think this is dangerous.
But just out of interest, would you do the swimming pool in the garden? Or is that too wild as well?

Realise you said 15 mins not 30, but this doesn’t help! You say they never wake- mine rarely do, but when they do- they do!

I’d go in my own pool in my own residence yes. Because toddlers could come bounding down the stairs to me. Or a baby monitor close enough to listen in. Sadly now my children are older they hear us in the pool and come down and jump in too 🤣

If there are more than one of you, take turns. One in the house the other swimming. Unless you cant go swimming alone for safety reasons, in which case either leave one adult at home and the swimmer takes a spotter, or get a babysitter.

Worst case scenario, you both drown and the kids blow up in a catastrophic house fire. More likely worst case is you get into difficulties in the water and have to answer tricky questions about why you left small children home alone to swim. Or something happens to one of the kids and you also have to answer tricky questions about why you went swimming and left the kids home alone.

Not worth it.

We need a photo or diagram 😎

I’m assuming you’ve heard of Madeleine?

I wouldn't unless there was a child 11 or older in the house who was responsible enough to watch the younger one and call for help if needed.
The risk is low, but it is higher than being in a pool.

Oh right, my mistake. I didn't realise Madeleine's parents had all the doors in windows of the house in view at all times. I thought they were out of sight.

Preschoolers? Quite obviously not. They need one person in the home.

Personally I think it’s ok if it really is that close to the house and if the house is properly locked. But I’m sure I’m the only one who thinks it’s ok.

How can you have the front and back of the house in sight?

Is it the sea or is it a lagoon? Lagoons/lakes can also be pretty dangerous

Ultimately its not a swimming pool in your back garden. A swimming pool in your back garden your likely to hear if your DC if they call out. Your dc will also probably hear you if they wake and can't find you. They aren't going to panic and go wandering. You will also hear if say an intruder enters your house, or the fire alarm goes off. A swimming pool is really easy to jump out of

I wouldnt even do it in the pool in my garden (not that I have one). What if one child got out of bed and fell or something.

I wouldn’t sorry, too risky. What if something happened to you? What if one of the kids woke up and wondered out to try and find you?
You’ll have to take turns until they are older

If your friend would come in if she didn't hear from you in 30 minutes, why not just get her to sit with them? 🤯

Because they are both on the same side of the house. There are no windows on the back of the house either.

I would see this as neglect and if someone did this they need reporting. Even today I sat outside with a coffee and had my son on the baby camera while he was having a nap. I wouldn't think of going nextdoor or over the road. I don't agree leaving kids unattended.

What kind of weird-ass house do you live in?!

Read the hand the first held mine. That’ll stop you in your tracks for even thinking about it.

You havent clarified if there's 2 adults?

I don't see why you would take the risk with 2 of you, when one could just sit by the back door while the other goes swimming. If your house is so close to the sea, and so visible you could probably still chat anyway