Families that never volunteer - swim team

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Time to start hiring people volunteering is not possible with us millennials working triple jobs

You aren't working triple jobs and be real, if they hired people do you realize what they'd have to charge for team and most families aren't willing to pay that. Part of team is everyone pitching in.

Parenting counts as a job, am I right SAHMs?!?

Sure and one that you can hire someone to do for a few hours so you can volunteer!

If every family is hiring a babysitter for a few hours just do they can volunteer, then it would definitely be cheaper to hire out swim team staff. If I have to pay $100 a night for a sitter, it would be way easier to pay that to a timer or a clerk or whatever else they need.

This is not happening. Find a way to make it work or tell your kid no swim team. It’s that simple. There is no option C: we can’t make volunteering work for our family but will still do swim team.

I’ve been a rep. There are plenty of off deck jobs you can do, none of which require childcare. On our team that might look like: serving donuts or pancakes in the clubhouse, picking up donuts, donating food, making pancakes, etc. Alternatively, you can hire a sitter and do an on deck job or hire a teen to do the on deck job for you. It’s entitled and selfish to engage in an activity that has rules for all, but you nevertheless engage in the activity knowing you won’t follow them. Those rules are there because it makes summer swim team fun for all and competitive for some.

Well put. There is no Option C. Do the work or skip swim team.

If your kid goes to practice and swims the occasional B meet, I don't think it's a big deal if you time once a season or bring something for the concession stand to sell once. In the scheme of things, it's fine. If your kid is swimming every A meet and you can't be bothered to volunteer you're a leach.

[Anonymous]

It's strange to me that this is the activity that gets so much flack on DCUM for being "privileged" or "elitist".

For my 2 kids summer swimming costs $440 a season per child. That's $5 a kid more than if they joined the team at the public pool. It works out to about $10 a day. It's a whole lot less expensive than a summer of camp, or travel soccer, or a family vacation or any one of a number of things that DCUM seems to think are normal. We can walk to the pool from our neighborhood of $500K houses, and rental apartment communities, which worked well when I was a SAHM without a car, and works well now that they're teenagers and can get there when I am at work.

There are two different options for practice times, and no one bats an eye if you miss one or a bunch of practices, which worked well for us as a family who needed flexibility due to a first responder parent.

I'm not saying it's perfect or that every family can do it, but it's far from the most elitist activity for kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's strange to me that this is the activity that gets so much flack on DCUM for being "privileged" or "elitist".

For my 2 kids summer swimming costs $440 a season per child. That's $5 a kid more than if they joined the team at the public pool. It works out to about $10 a day. It's a whole lot less expensive than a summer of camp, or travel soccer, or a family vacation or any one of a number of things that DCUM seems to think are normal. We can walk to the pool from our neighborhood of $500K houses, and rental apartment communities, which worked well when I was a SAHM without a car, and works well now that they're teenagers and can get there when I am at work.

There are two different options for practice times, and no one bats an eye if you miss one or a bunch of practices, which worked well for us as a family who needed flexibility due to a first responder parent.

I'm not saying it's perfect or that every family can do it, but it's far from the most elitist activity for kids.

$440 is a lot of money for some people.

Time itself is a commodity. And wellness. Some of us have little to none. We might be busy in litigation, surgery, caring for a paralyzed family member, long covid, maybe a major house leak destroyed most of our home and several contractors are here, working nights and weekends, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's strange to me that this is the activity that gets so much flack on DCUM for being "privileged" or "elitist".

For my 2 kids summer swimming costs $440 a season per child. That's $5 a kid more than if they joined the team at the public pool. It works out to about $10 a day. It's a whole lot less expensive than a summer of camp, or travel soccer, or a family vacation or any one of a number of things that DCUM seems to think are normal. We can walk to the pool from our neighborhood of $500K houses, and rental apartment communities, which worked well when I was a SAHM without a car, and works well now that they're teenagers and can get there when I am at work.

There are two different options for practice times, and no one bats an eye if you miss one or a bunch of practices, which worked well for us as a family who needed flexibility due to a first responder parent.

I'm not saying it's perfect or that every family can do it, but it's far from the most elitist activity for kids.

$440 is a lot of money for some people.

Time itself is a commodity. And wellness. Some of us have little to none. We might be busy in litigation, surgery, caring for a paralyzed family member, long covid, maybe a major house leak destroyed most of our home and several contractors are here, working nights and weekends, etc.

PP here,

I agree that it's not something everyone can do. But my question is why are people up in arms about this activity, and not about so many other things. People working nights and weekends are going to have a harder time with travel soccer, and summer camp isn't going to work for them at all. People who don't have $440 aren't going to be buying or renting in a "W" pyramid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's strange to me that this is the activity that gets so much flack on DCUM for being "privileged" or "elitist".

For my 2 kids summer swimming costs $440 a season per child. That's $5 a kid more than if they joined the team at the public pool. It works out to about $10 a day. It's a whole lot less expensive than a summer of camp, or travel soccer, or a family vacation or any one of a number of things that DCUM seems to think are normal. We can walk to the pool from our neighborhood of $500K houses, and rental apartment communities, which worked well when I was a SAHM without a car, and works well now that they're teenagers and can get there when I am at work.

There are two different options for practice times, and no one bats an eye if you miss one or a bunch of practices, which worked well for us as a family who needed flexibility due to a first responder parent.

I'm not saying it's perfect or that every family can do it, but it's far from the most elitist activity for kids.

$440 is a lot of money for some people.

Time itself is a commodity. And wellness. Some of us have little to none. We might be busy in litigation, surgery, caring for a paralyzed family member, long covid, maybe a major house leak destroyed most of our home and several contractors are here, working nights and weekends, etc.

Contractors don’t work day and night. Your excuse is silly. If someone has health or other issues most teams will work with them. If you are a lawyer or doctor your nanny can do it.

[Anonymous]

I feel bad for team reps who are stressed out and have to scramble last minute to find enough volunteers for team meet, especially home meet.

We are in this together, people. Don't be an a-hole.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's strange to me that this is the activity that gets so much flack on DCUM for being "privileged" or "elitist".

For my 2 kids summer swimming costs $440 a season per child. That's $5 a kid more than if they joined the team at the public pool. It works out to about $10 a day. It's a whole lot less expensive than a summer of camp, or travel soccer, or a family vacation or any one of a number of things that DCUM seems to think are normal. We can walk to the pool from our neighborhood of $500K houses, and rental apartment communities, which worked well when I was a SAHM without a car, and works well now that they're teenagers and can get there when I am at work.

There are two different options for practice times, and no one bats an eye if you miss one or a bunch of practices, which worked well for us as a family who needed flexibility due to a first responder parent.

I'm not saying it's perfect or that every family can do it, but it's far from the most elitist activity for kids.

What is the approximate breakdown of that $440? It’s not just swim team, right? Are you including club dues?

[Anonymous]

Swim team was gross and such a waste of time. Just let people enjoy the neighborhood pool instead of giving in to this insanity. Everyone knows that if you truly want your kid to be a competitive swimmer, you need to be going at the crack of dawn and practicing at an indoor olympic pool year-round.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's strange to me that this is the activity that gets so much flack on DCUM for being "privileged" or "elitist".

For my 2 kids summer swimming costs $440 a season per child. That's $5 a kid more than if they joined the team at the public pool. It works out to about $10 a day. It's a whole lot less expensive than a summer of camp, or travel soccer, or a family vacation or any one of a number of things that DCUM seems to think are normal. We can walk to the pool from our neighborhood of $500K houses, and rental apartment communities, which worked well when I was a SAHM without a car, and works well now that they're teenagers and can get there when I am at work.

There are two different options for practice times, and no one bats an eye if you miss one or a bunch of practices, which worked well for us as a family who needed flexibility due to a first responder parent.

I'm not saying it's perfect or that every family can do it, but it's far from the most elitist activity for kids.

What is the approximate breakdown of that $440? It’s not just swim team, right? Are you including club dues?

I took club dues for a family of 2 adults plus kids, added the cost for swim team for two swimmers, and then divided the total in half to get the cost per swimmer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Swim team was gross and such a waste of time. Just let people enjoy the neighborhood pool instead of giving in to this insanity. Everyone knows that if you truly want your kid to be a competitive swimmer, you need to be going at the crack of dawn and practicing at an indoor olympic pool year-round.

Why is being a truly competitive swimmer the only goal?

My kid did swim team because it was fun, it gave us something in the summer when I was a SAHM who couldn't afford camp, and when I went back to work it meant that my kids burned some energy and were easier for Grandparents to manage, or more willing to play quietly while their Dad slept after the night shift.

Why aren't those things good enough goals?

[Anonymous]

I think volunteering goes in phases. When my kids were in elementary school I was at every meet - concessions, timer, ended up getting NVSL trained to be a starter. It was such a time commitment but my kids loved it. My teens lost interest this summer and I am praising hallelujah I don't have to drive out to western nova to stand in the hot sun. we do other volunteer things with our time so I don't feel bad about not being a part of the swim cult.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's strange to me that this is the activity that gets so much flack on DCUM for being "privileged" or "elitist".

For my 2 kids summer swimming costs $440 a season per child. That's $5 a kid more than if they joined the team at the public pool. It works out to about $10 a day. It's a whole lot less expensive than a summer of camp, or travel soccer, or a family vacation or any one of a number of things that DCUM seems to think are normal. We can walk to the pool from our neighborhood of $500K houses, and rental apartment communities, which worked well when I was a SAHM without a car, and works well now that they're teenagers and can get there when I am at work.

There are two different options for practice times, and no one bats an eye if you miss one or a bunch of practices, which worked well for us as a family who needed flexibility due to a first responder parent.

I'm not saying it's perfect or that every family can do it, but it's far from the most elitist activity for kids.

$440 is a lot of money for some people.

Time itself is a commodity. And wellness. Some of us have little to none. We might be busy in litigation, surgery, caring for a paralyzed family member, long covid, maybe a major house leak destroyed most of our home and several contractors are here, working nights and weekends, etc.

OMG! No one owes you convenient childcare free of financial cost or a contribution of volunteer hours. No one owes you a pool membership when most of us applied and waited years. No one owes you free anything except a safe and appropriate public education k -12.

Activities that are relatively lower in cost like summer swim, rec sports, and scouting all operate on a massive amount of volunteer labor. Also due to our screwed up healthcare system and litigious society, all kid’s activities require a massive amount of insurance in addition to modest salaries for the few paid employees.

Some groups are more “extra” and some are more bare bones. No one is forcing you to join the pool that does a team social AND team breakfast every week. If the pool associated with your HOA or the only one you got a membership offer for after 5 years of waiting happens to be the “extra” pool, then don’t join swim team if you can’t be bothered. If you have legitimate family hardship, raise that privately to the team rep, don’t make it a hypothetical sob story when 95% of families can find a way to contribute most years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Time to start hiring people volunteering is not possible with us millennials working triple jobs

You aren't working triple jobs and be real, if they hired people do you realize what they'd have to charge for team and most families aren't willing to pay that. Part of team is everyone pitching in.

Parenting counts as a job, am I right SAHMs?!?

Sure and one that you can hire someone to do for a few hours so you can volunteer!

If every family is hiring a babysitter for a few hours just do they can volunteer, then it would definitely be cheaper to hire out swim team staff. If I have to pay $100 a night for a sitter, it would be way easier to pay that to a timer or a clerk or whatever else they need.

This is not happening. Find a way to make it work or tell your kid no swim team. It’s that simple. There is no option C: we can’t make volunteering work for our family but will still do swim team.

I’ve been a rep. There are plenty of off deck jobs you can do, none of which require childcare. On our team that might look like: serving donuts or pancakes in the clubhouse, picking up donuts, donating food, making pancakes, etc. Alternatively, you can hire a sitter and do an on deck job or hire a teen to do the on deck job for you. It’s entitled and selfish to engage in an activity that has rules for all, but you nevertheless engage in the activity knowing you won’t follow them. Those rules are there because it makes summer swim team fun for all and competitive for some.

Well put. There is no Option C. Do the work or skip swim team.

If your kid goes to practice and swims the occasional B meet, I don't think it's a big deal if you time once a season or bring something for the concession stand to sell once. In the scheme of things, it's fine. If your kid is swimming every A meet and you can't be bothered to volunteer you're a leach.

And this is why people see you as entitled. YOU don’t think it’s a big deal to time at one meet even if your kid goes to more than one meet or bring something once. Everyone needs to meet the obligations of being in the team. It’s very, very easy: don’t want to volunteer, don’t do swim team or don’t do any meets. But it isn’t up to any of us to just think: eh, in my opinion what I did is sufficient.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Time to start hiring people volunteering is not possible with us millennials working triple jobs

You aren't working triple jobs and be real, if they hired people do you realize what they'd have to charge for team and most families aren't willing to pay that. Part of team is everyone pitching in.

Parenting counts as a job, am I right SAHMs?!?

Sure and one that you can hire someone to do for a few hours so you can volunteer!

If every family is hiring a babysitter for a few hours just do they can volunteer, then it would definitely be cheaper to hire out swim team staff. If I have to pay $100 a night for a sitter, it would be way easier to pay that to a timer or a clerk or whatever else they need.

This is not happening. Find a way to make it work or tell your kid no swim team. It’s that simple. There is no option C: we can’t make volunteering work for our family but will still do swim team.

I’ve been a rep. There are plenty of off deck jobs you can do, none of which require childcare. On our team that might look like: serving donuts or pancakes in the clubhouse, picking up donuts, donating food, making pancakes, etc. Alternatively, you can hire a sitter and do an on deck job or hire a teen to do the on deck job for you. It’s entitled and selfish to engage in an activity that has rules for all, but you nevertheless engage in the activity knowing you won’t follow them. Those rules are there because it makes summer swim team fun for all and competitive for some.

Well put. There is no Option C. Do the work or skip swim team.

If your kid goes to practice and swims the occasional B meet, I don't think it's a big deal if you time once a season or bring something for the concession stand to sell once. In the scheme of things, it's fine. If your kid is swimming every A meet and you can't be bothered to volunteer you're a leach.

And this is why people see you as entitled. YOU don’t think it’s a big deal to time at one meet even if your kid goes to more than one meet or bring something once. Everyone needs to meet the obligations of being in the team. It’s very, very easy: don’t want to volunteer, don’t do swim team or don’t do any meets. But it isn’t up to any of us to just think: eh, in my opinion what I did is sufficient.

PP here, I'm currently our team's starter and have worked every almost job our has other than team rep and announcer. With 200 swimmers, we really don't need everyone being forced to volunteer because there are enough people who are happy to do it. We tell parents one shift per swimmer per summer, but no one checks or cares

[Anonymous]

edit, I haven't done table either