extending swimming time

[singarainbow]

My 10 yo dd has been asked to join a local swimming club junior squad, she is happy but not over the top excited as she is not really a driven competitive type but does have a natural ability. My DP is against it as it will mean 2 times a week training to start with, ( progressing to 4 if she wants to compete - which I doubt) as opposed to once a week and we do have two younger ones who also have other activities..the kids at the moment have no activities on tues, weds and sundays, and my DP wants that to remain the same.
My Dp is the SAHM and I work full time shift work, so alot the time she is the one who does all the after school running around, and I do appreciate that it impacts her the most. I cant help but feel that we are limiting dd by not considering finding a way, she may not be wanting to compete at the moment, but she has a talent and I feel that while she wants to go, we should try and support her. I am wondering if anyone has any experience of managing this sort of after school commitment with other kids and only 1 parent available most of the time.

There will only be more & more of these opportunities, it's part of being a parent. I don't think twice a week is that onerous although I appreciate it can be tricky if right at tea time. See if the two of you can juggle it or share some lifts with friends?

We are lucky DD is 12 so can take herself to swim club.

I'd let her do it, but we have always fitted things in if we can, and if the kids have asked to do them. We have a very busy week and weekend.

It depends on your own circumstances though, and how far it is to the activities.

We also complicated things by choosing an out of catchment secondary school which necessitates pick-ups if they stay for after-school activities. I've had some lovely chats with my youngest DS on the 20 minute run out to collect the older ones, situations can often be turned into quality time

Its not far to travel, just a bit too far for her to walk/cycle on her own. DD is also not too keen as it will mean moving her diving lesson as they clash, and she wont be with the same friends (she has only started this term, so not too close).
Thanks for your input. I want her to do it, but its not me that is affected by it. I was a keen sports person as a teenager and trained every night (so I dont see the issue with being busy every night), my DP hates sports, so we really are at opposite ends of the spectrum. I am also very wary of pushing her into it, and being the "pushy parent", but I do think that she is too young to just give up on an opportunity like this.

I think if you aren't going to be doing the swimming run. It's a bit unfair to push it on your DP if she can't do it as she has two other kids to look after. I only have two and my eldest does Judo, it is so difficult fitting it in because my younger one has to go to bed.

What time will she need to do her swimming because that may affect bed times, dinner times etc for everyone else. Club swimming here tends to be an hour and 7 pm seem the norm for a start and early morning swims.

If its just one extra day can you not work through your lunch, have an early start so you finish early or something along those lines so that you can take her yourself? As you work shifts, do you have weeks you can take her and other weeks your DP can take her? At least it will sound more like shared responsibility. Sporting demands increase as they grow older and I have had to say no to intense training for my daughter. I still have life beyond her sporting activities.

Genesis, thanks for the input. Unfortunately my work is not flexible to work during lunch etc. When I am not at work I do take the kids to their activities, its just that my 0630-1830 day shift and 1830-0630 night shift does not allow me to help in the evenings even when I am days or nights.
There will be 1 x 1hr session 1815-1915 and 1 x 2hr session 1800-2000 to start with, so yes, at a really difficult time for the four year old. I feel reassured that someone else feels its OK to say no to intense training, and that it is not unreasonable to do so. Thanks

Can you try and find some other people in the club who do lift shares with you? I have a 10 year old dd is a junior squad who now also swims 3 times a weeks. It is a bit of a nightmare but you may find other parents in the club have the same issues, so are prepared to share the load.

I have someonwe take and and bring home my dd for the Wednesday sessions and then i bring home her dd from the Thursday session. Makes things so much easier.