Pull The Plug

[Anonymous]

How do you convince your DC it is time to leave club swimming and find something else to fill their time?

[Anonymous]

If you're dealing with a teenager, I think you know if you tell them directly, they're likely going to dig in their heels. That's a conversation with leading questions and alternatives.

Younger kid? Just 'forget' to sign them back up next year.

[Anonymous]

I think it depends on your reasons for wanting them to be done. Are they no longer enjoying the sport but don’t know what else to do? Is it a team issue that switching teams would help solve? How old is the kid?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it depends on your reasons for wanting them to be done. Are they no longer enjoying the sport but don’t know what else to do? Is it a team issue that switching teams would help solve? How old is the kid?

I just see no upside to it. The time commitment is extremely demanding given the returns at this point. I get it….teamwork, organization, friends but at what cost? There is no future where this gives back what has been given.

[Anonymous]

Age and level of your swimmer?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it depends on your reasons for wanting them to be done. Are they no longer enjoying the sport but don’t know what else to do? Is it a team issue that switching teams would help solve? How old is the kid?

I just see no upside to it. The time commitment is extremely demanding given the returns at this point. I get it….teamwork, organization, friends but at what cost? There is no future where this gives back what has been given.

Not letting your kid do something they enjoy and want to put time and effort into solely for your own selfish reasons is actually 100% going to result in them giving you back everything you gave to them… and just to be clear that is lack of love!

[Anonymous]

If they enjoy it and I wasn’t sacrificing financially for them to do it I would let them keep doing it. Swimming is really good exercise. My kid only did club for 2 years thrm
Switched the soccer/basketball. I don’t care if she’s “ not going anywhere” it’s what she enjoys

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it depends on your reasons for wanting them to be done. Are they no longer enjoying the sport but don’t know what else to do? Is it a team issue that switching teams would help solve? How old is the kid?

I just see no upside to it. The time commitment is extremely demanding given the returns at this point. I get it….teamwork, organization, friends but at what cost? There is no future where this gives back what has been given.

The way you’re analyzing this (discounting teamwork, exercise, friendships, etc.), most other extracurricular activities would also have no upside in your mind.

[Anonymous]

Is it about performance or lack of progress? Because encouraging them to quit for those reasons will surely create resentment and make your kid feel like he/she isn’t good enough to be worth the time and money investment. Depending on the age and gender, this could be a temporary slump. Boys who are late to puberty often go through a hard time when all their peers surpass them, only to catch up again in a year or two. For girls, it can be the opposite - early puberty can mean the are 11-12 year old superstars and then struggle as their bodies develop more curves and they have already peaked physically. All these things can be worked through with encouragement and good coaching. I would not force your kid to quit if they are happy with what they are doing. Many kids who enjoy swimming through high school will not swim in college. It doesn’t make it a worthless activity.

[Anonymous]

Never. DS swam club for 6y and never even made a B cut. He was always among the bottom 20 out of a field of 100s. But he enjoyed swimming, he had friends, he was active...

He is now active with his college club swim team. It is a great social outlet for him.

Sometimes we do things for the enjoyment. Not what they can do for us.

[Anonymous]

I wish I had your problem OP. My oldest wants to quit and it’s making me sad. I think swimming is such a great sport and I wish they would continue regardless of their success or lack thereof. I would be so happy to have a kid who enjoyed swimming and wanted to stick with it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wish I had your problem OP. My oldest wants to quit and it’s making me sad. I think swimming is such a great sport and I wish they would continue regardless of their success or lack thereof. I would be so happy to have a kid who enjoyed swimming and wanted to stick with it!

We can swap spots. After six years of this, I am ready to move on with my life. It is not the money. It is not the time demands. It is not the coaches. It is the toxicity of the community.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wish I had your problem OP. My oldest wants to quit and it’s making me sad. I think swimming is such a great sport and I wish they would continue regardless of their success or lack thereof. I would be so happy to have a kid who enjoyed swimming and wanted to stick with it!

We can swap spots. After six years of this, I am ready to move on with my life. It is not the money. It is not the time demands. It is not the coaches. It is the toxicity of the community.

Care to share? Other than the garbage/nonsense on DCUM, my swim parent experience is positive. But never mind about me, if people are talking about me or my kids behind my back, I don't really care. As far as my kids go, their experience also is positive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Never. DS swam club for 6y and never even made a B cut. He was always among the bottom 20 out of a field of 100s. But he enjoyed swimming, he had friends, he was active...

He is now active with his college club swim team. It is a great social outlet for him.

Sometimes we do things for the enjoyment. Not what they can do for us.

This. For enjoyment and exercise.

[Anonymous]

This may be controversial, but more should bow out sooner.