s/o pool post regarding knowing how to swim

southernbelle82 · May 2009

My parents had me in the pool EARLY and in swim lessons EARLY. Unfortunately for them I am part fish and want to be in the water ALL.THE.TIME. Nothing has changed with age. My dream is to have my own pool one day.

I have a friend who doesn't know how to swim. This baffles me. It's just hard to imagine not knowing how to swim. I grew up on the coast but even when we moved more inland, we'd go to the community pool, friends pools, lakes, the beach,etc. My friend will go to the pool but she'll stay in the shallow end or on the edge of the deep end. When she goes to the lake she's always nervous and uneasy since she can't swim.

So I was just curious, if you don't know how to swim, do you mind sharing the reason? And if you don't know how to swim, will you put DC in swim lessons or not worry about it?

olivejuice127 · May 2009

This is the exact reason that I have DD in swim lessons. There is no reason a kid should not learn how to swim at an early age. My mom did it for me when I was a baby and I too am now part fish. I used to be a lifeguard and had so many kids that would ask to take the deep water test (to make sure they were strong enough for deeper waters) and they would tell me they didn't even know how to swim!!! Why would you want to be in deep water then?? There are just so many senseless things to harm our kids and drowning will not be one of mine.

Sunny1inTucson · May 2009

It was an old policy and I think they've gotten rid of it since I graduated, but when I went to UNC for college, part of their graduation requirement was a swim test to prove you could swim.

lmdbww · May 2009

Your friend must be my twin. I am the exact same way.

I almost drowned when I was little. I remember bits and pieces of it. I have been scared of water ever since. Even if i'm in the shallow end I dont get my face wet. I just freak out and cant control my breath under the water. I can tread water and can kind of paddle around, but otherwise i'm useless.

We had to take swimming in junior high and I failed every single year. I was the only one in the whole class that couldn't swim and they had no desire to teach me. I had to (try) to do what the other kids did or I failed. I still am kind of traumatized remembering having to bob in and out of the water in the deep end and having to jump in... Ugh.

Thankfully Dh is part fish so that kind of makes me feel better. Hopefully she wont be afraid like me.

k8elee03 · May 2009

I think I would die in Florida if I were afraid of water. It's just too damn hot in the summer.

stina022 · May 2009

I have a fear of deep water so I don't usually go in water over my head. I could swim if I had to and am trying to get over this fear because I don't want DS to be afraid of water. Dh and I plan on doing classes with him.

southernbelle82 · May 2009

stina022:
I have a fear of deep water so I don't usually go in water over my head. I could swim if I had to and am trying to get over this fear because I don't want DS to be afraid of water. Dh and I plan on doing classes with him.

I'm afraid of ocean water...but only b/c I'm afraid of sharks. I still get in but I don't go far! Wink

LuckySunshineBaby · May 2009

I hate swimming (floating in a pool is fine). I hate getting my face wet (even in the shower). I'm not afraid, just not a fan. My mom couldn't swim until she was 13 and she had to take lessons after a near scare with her sister, so as a beginner she was in the 5-6 yr. old class. She enrolled us at 5 in swim lesson and we had them every year until we were 13. I didn't love them and didn't do all that great. Ironically, DH works in the Aquatics industry. DD will be enrolled in swim lessons (this fall), which will involve me going in the water. I was really hoping they had classes for her age that was all instructor based (private? something I didn't have to do more than cheer from the sidelines on). I would jump off a boat in the ocean, but I can manage to tread water for 30 seconds. I hope DD takes after DH.

*Bre* · May 2009

I took swimming lessons from age 3 on, and failed every year. I almost drowned at a very young age as well and so I had a phobia of being in deep water and would refuse to jump in during lessons b/c I would have panic attacks. Its not that bad now, I *can* swim and I enjoy being in the water, I'm just not confident enough to go into water that is too far over my head (6-8 ft is as deep as I go) or without a life jacket.

stina022 · May 2009

southernbelle82:

stina022:
I have a fear of deep water so I don't usually go in water over my head. I could swim if I had to and am trying to get over this fear because I don't want DS to be afraid of water. Dh and I plan on doing classes with him.

I'm afraid of ocean water...but only b/c I'm afraid of sharks. I still get in but I don't go far!

Sharks are scary! I did make myself go snorkeling on my honeymoon. After nearly having a panic attack after realizing how deep the water was, it was pretty cool. I did ask the guide about sharks before going in

southernbelle82 · May 2009

stina022:
Sharks are scary! I did make myself go snorkeling on my honeymoon. After nearly having a panic attack after realizing how deep the water was, it was pretty cool. I did ask the guide about sharks before going in

OMG I went snorkeling on our honeymoon but I was terrified both times! I spent the whole time looking out for sharks! DH tried to get me to get certified for deep sea diving...I told him deep sea is where Jaws lives. No thanks!

Parks2Be · May 2009

My GMIL is/was afraid of the water so she never taught MIL and her two sisters how to swim. One aunt taught herself and has a pool at her house but rarely uses it. Southern- I'm with you. It baffles me as I grew up in the water. My mom had me in the pool at 2 weeks old (she ran the community pool in the summers)

Oh and my one wish in life is to have my very own backyard oasis.

One day...

Kaye Weaver · May 2009

I don't know how to swim. ?Actually it's more like I am incapable of swimming. ?I've been w/ DH for almost 12 years and every year he has tried to teach me and every year I fail. ?I sink. ?I also have asthma and don't have the lung capacity for swimming (per my doctor). ?I've tried, I've made valiant efforts but I just can't do it. ?I also can't put my face in the water - I think that's semi-unrelated though. ?I never went to the pool as a kid either. ?My Mom and I both burn like lobsters w/in like 10 minutes of being in the sun so that was a huge factor of not going to the pool.

I'm planning (and calling around for) swim lessons for DS. ?DH is a freakin' fish. ?He was on swim team and was a rower in HS so I have no worries about DS not knowing how b/c DH will teach him.

snuggles277 · May 2009

lmdbww:

Your friend must be my twin. I am the exact same way.

I almost drowned when I was little. I remember bits and pieces of it. I have been scared of water ever since. Even if i'm in the shallow end I dont get my face wet. I just freak out and cant control my breath under the water. I can tread water and can kind of paddle around, but otherwise i'm useless.

We had to take swimming in junior high and I failed every single year. I was the only one in the whole class that couldn't swim and they had no desire to teach me. I had to (try) to do what the other kids did or I failed. I still am kind of traumatized remembering having to bob in and out of the water in the deep end and having to jump in... Ugh.

Thankfully Dh is part fish so that kind of makes me feel better. Hopefully she wont be afraid like me.

very similar story to mine!

southernbelle82 · May 2009

Parks2Be:

Oh and my one wish in life is to have my very own backyard oasis.
One day...

we'll get there! You just have to believe!! Wink

KittenGator · May 2009

I can swim, but not that well. I took years of swimming lessons and for some reason, still can't swim without plugging my nose. The water makes me panic.

HisWifeHerMom · May 2009

I think I swim better than I walk. I can't imagine not knowing how to swim, I am a fish too. DD loves to swim but I need to get her past this fear she has of getting water in her face. DS will be getting in the pool for the first time this Sunday. Can't wait!

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