How to get used to 4:30 am swim … for parents

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just know that the majority kids after doing all this for years end up quitting and never swimming in college. Chose accordingly.

The majority of kids in any sport don't play in college, but at least they can gain a usable skill from swimming. There isn't much opportunity for recreational fencing or lacrosse as adults.

Yeah but once you learn how to swim and can do laps what is the point of competitive swimming if its just about learning the skill ?

You could literally ask that question for every single skill in life, and the answer is to… compete.

[Anonymous]

I found it easiest to just get on a schedule of early to bed early to rise. I can’t sleep past 5 anymore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would consider it terrible and abusive parenting if any of the parent's motivation was the hope of a college scholarship.

Sad thing is most kids will not get a scholarship. So, it is kinda abusive.

People on this thread really need to stop throwing around the word “abuse” so cavalierly. Not minimizing how awful it is when intense parents force their kids into stupid youth sports scenarios… but when we have unthinkable things happening to kids every minute of every day, there’s something that really bothers me when for days now people on this thread have used that word to describe parents that allow their kids to do early morning swim practices. To me, it diminishes the plight of children on a true spectrum of abuse.
(PS - not saying I think early morning practice is a stupid youth sports scenario. It works for some kids and families and it doesn’t for others.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just know that the majority kids after doing all this for years end up quitting and never swimming in college. Chose accordingly.

The majority of kids in any sport don't play in college, but at least they can gain a usable skill from swimming. There isn't much opportunity for recreational fencing or lacrosse as adults.

Yeah but once you learn how to swim and can do laps what is the point of competitive swimming if its just about learning the skill ?

You could literally ask that question for every single skill in life, and the answer is to… compete.

+1. People love doing all sorts of things - they knit, they collect bottle caps, they dress up as furry animals. So yes, some people love to swim fast and compete. I didn’t love it, but two of my kids happened to, and they have also picked up other water activities easily like rowing, kayaking, paddle boarding, surfing, water skiing, wake boarding, scuba diving, sailing, snorkeling, parasailing, water polo, kite surfing etc. Their confidence in the water made it easier to enjoy a lot of other water activities with friends and family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thank you. I am a morning person. This will help me get back to my marathon running shape.

By driving your kid to swim and sitting there for 1-2 hours? Or do you plan to run in the dark while your kid is swimming?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank you. I am a morning person. This will help me get back to my marathon running shape.

By driving your kid to swim and sitting there for 1-2 hours? Or do you plan to run in the dark while your kid is swimming?

Are you really unsure what she meant?

[Anonymous]

Sick

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would consider it terrible and abusive parenting if any of the parent's motivation was the hope of a college scholarship.

Sad thing is most kids will not get a scholarship. So, it is kinda abusive.

People on this thread really need to stop throwing around the word “abuse” so cavalierly. Not minimizing how awful it is when intense parents force their kids into stupid youth sports scenarios… but when we have unthinkable things happening to kids every minute of every day, there’s something that really bothers me when for days now people on this thread have used that word to describe parents that allow their kids to do early morning swim practices. To me, it diminishes the plight of children on a true spectrum of abuse.
(PS - not saying I think early morning practice is a stupid youth sports scenario. It works for some kids and families and it doesn’t for others.)

I had the same thought. Also, my kid was injured and couldnt play sports for a while. She was really sad and it helped crystallize how much she loved it. Getting up early can be hard but it is not dire as people are making it out to be (unless you have a health condition or something that makes it difficult). Don’t get me wrong, I am tired but also appreciative that my kid likes something so much, is motivated and generally nice. I could be dealing with something awful like a drug addiction. I will take the early wake ups any day.

[Anonymous]

My suggestion is that you don’t sign your kid up for something that starts at such a ridiculously early time