Swim Excuse Note

[Anonymous]

I don’t understand what the basis for the doctor’s note would be.

[Anonymous]

Geez I’m surprised by all these posters. Girls absolutely don’t need swim classes at 14. Literally anything would be better at 14 than swimming with a bunch of your hormonal peers. Get her an excuse, send her to the library and she’ll be far more productive and less anxious.

[Anonymous]

As long as she is a good swimmer already, I’d facilitate an excuse, sure. Nothing wrong with giving a little pass every once in awhile IMO. Sounds like it really is something she feels strongly about, and 14 can be such a tough age (I also have a 14yo DD- and she would enjoy the swim unit but is sensitive about other things. They are all different).

My DD would be required-by me- to make up the exercise she missed on her own.

[Anonymous]

OP here. She is perfectly skilled with swimming, just because folks asked. Totally mixed bag of responses. That’s interesting. The doctor just called back and said no problem. She’s not going to put a reason in the note, but that the school can call the office if they need more information. For the poster who said she wouldn’t want to swim in front of her colleagues, I totally agree!

[Anonymous]

You're sending her these messages:

Your backne is embarrassing.

Your insecurities are more important than other's' insecurities.

When life is unpleasant, you should avoid it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. She is perfectly skilled with swimming, just because folks asked. Totally mixed bag of responses. That’s interesting. The doctor just called back and said no problem. She’s not going to put a reason in the note, but that the school can call the office if they need more information. For the poster who said she wouldn’t want to swim in front of her colleagues, I totally agree!

I have extremely curly hair and even pulled back this would be a nightmare. And, I'm the parent of a swimmer. I would have no issue getting a note.

[Anonymous]

My public school in PA required everyone to do a swim unit freshman year. I didn’t know one girl that was ever allowed to get out of it. In fact, i was dealing with an orthopedic issue that made regular PE hard for me so they keep me in swimming for double the quarters. It was really crap.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You're sending her these messages:

Your backne is embarrassing.

Your insecurities are more important than other's' insecurities.

When life is unpleasant, you should avoid it.

I kind of agree with this. What you're teaching her is that she's right to be embarrassed, that you don't think she can handle this, and that avoiding unpleasant things is the best course of action. It would be trivially easy to have her wear a swimsuit with more coverage -- rash guards, swim shirts, high-necked suits (common in lap suits anyway), etc., and still participate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You're sending her these messages:

Your backne is embarrassing.

Your insecurities are more important than other's' insecurities.

When life is unpleasant, you should avoid it.

Exactly.

OP, this sends a terrible message to your kid.

[Anonymous]

I had swim class in high school, but I also had mine the first 9 weeks last period right before soccer practice so I didn't mind. I also had acne. Honestly on those days I would just have her pull her hair up. Problem solved. Everyone has to deal with it at some point. In my experience everyone talked about the people who consistently didn't swim, and didn't notice anyone who was swimming (as we were all in the water, covered with water so no one really noticed your back).

[Anonymous]

OP, I’ve never heard of how having really curly hair is something that would stop someone from swimming. I have curly hair myself. Are you African American by chance?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You're sending her these messages:

Your backne is embarrassing.

Your insecurities are more important than other's' insecurities.

When life is unpleasant, you should avoid it.

Exactly.

OP, this sends a terrible message to your kid.

I don't think any of you remember what it was like to be a 14 year old girl. Or you're men.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You're sending her these messages:

Your backne is embarrassing.

Your insecurities are more important than other's' insecurities.

When life is unpleasant, you should avoid it.

Exactly.

OP, this sends a terrible message to your kid.

I don't think any of you remember what it was like to be a 14 year old girl. Or you're men.

I’m female. I had to take swim in HS. I was awkward and didn’t like it, but I dealt with it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You're sending her these messages:

Your backne is embarrassing.

Your insecurities are more important than other's' insecurities.

When life is unpleasant, you should avoid it.

Exactly.

OP, this sends a terrible message to your kid.

Oh yes, like the message that:

“It is your body and no one has a right to compel you to display it, particularly under circumstances where the display is likely to result in malicious, targeted, anti-woman bullying.”

Yup, terrible message.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You're sending her these messages:

Your backne is embarrassing.

Your insecurities are more important than other's' insecurities.

When life is unpleasant, you should avoid it.

Exactly.

OP, this sends a terrible message to your kid.

I don't think any of you remember what it was like to be a 14 year old girl. Or you're men.

I’m female. I had to take swim in HS. I was awkward and didn’t like it, but I dealt with it.

+1
I absolutely remember what it was like to be a 14-year-old girl. And I wouldn't get my kid a note to get out of swim because being in a swimsuit around your classmates is awkward. If anything, there are a lot more options for less-revealing swimwear than there used to be.