Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Swim team parents verses travel soccer, basketball, softball etc is not the same. Have (are) doing both. Sorry but have to agree with the other posters. Many of the swim parents are really strange. The fact that they all hang out at the pep rallies and other team events is just strange. It most certainly does not happen in other sports the same way.

Swim teams are local to a specific area and kids stay on the teams often for over 10 years. I don't really get why it's strange that the parents wouldn't hang out together after dropping off their kids. They don't participate in the pep rally. By the time kids are on the swim team they can usually swim independently so at a pep rally parents are just hanging out among themselves. There's definitely a culture of travel parents hanging out together too. Obviously you don't like your pool or the people there. Sorry you don't like it, but our pool is great and so are all the others ones nearby as well. There is no gala, and everyone is down to earth and all the kids go on to high school together. You get to meet entire families including all the brothers and sisters, not just the one elite player. I have to think that places like Bethesda, these parents are over the top whether they're at the pool, on the soccer field, at the gymnastics facility, or at the school. If you want more down to earth people, move out of neighborhoods full of rich, type A parents.

Anonymous wrote:Swim team parents verses travel soccer, basketball, softball etc is not the same. Have (are) doing both. Sorry but have to agree with the other posters. Many of the swim parents are really strange. The fact that they all hang out at the pep rallies and other team events is just strange. It most certainly does not happen in other sports the same way.

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Anonymous wrote:OP here, btw, all the boys (I do not have any) looked adorable -- collared shorts and dress pants and hair combed. And PP is correct, it is only the swim team parents and the kids from 6-18 on the team, so not a lot of exposure but still so strange.....

The age range is the problem here. What is appropriate party dress and party activities for that matter for 15-18 year olds, is not what is appropriate for kids 6-10. There should be a kid end of year blow out party and a teen Gala, if a Gala needs to happen. 14+ for the Gala if need be.

That is the beauty of summer swim -- the 6 year old is just as important as the 18 year old and they make up one team

+1 totally agree. To see teenagers connecting with the younger kids teaching them how to swim and cheering them on at the meets is why I love swim team. It is very unique and refreshing to see when so many other sports are so competive and tnot as supportive of other team members,

Sure, it's great for swim team. But what is an appropriate party for a 6-10 year old is very different from what is appropriate for an older teen. An appropriate party for the younger group would be a family event, something so lame that the older kids would roll their eyes at being expected to make an appearance! Having a fancy dress up Gala with teen girls in revealing dresses is not appropriate for the younger kids. That's where the difficulty is coming from.

Have a family party and remind kids to dress appropriately.

You have no clue what you are talking about. The OP is the only poster who said their swim team had these girls who caked on the makeup and wore false eyelashes. every other psoter who attended a swim team gala said yes, the older kids wore short dresses but not all the makeup. At our swim team banquet, the younger and older kids all dressed up and enjoy celebrating together their successes as a team. Many teams, including ours, puts together a video of the season. After the younger and older kids dance. They have a blast and no parent is sitting their saying that the younger kdis shouldn't be there because teenagers are wearing short dresses.

All of those objecting need to get out and participate instead of criticizing from the outside. Maybe if you involved in your kids in activities which you did not try to control everything, your kids woudl learn to enjoy something just for the experience and the fun.

This statement is contradictory. You say parents need to "get out and participate", but should also "involve your kids in activities in which you do not try to control everything". My kids have participated in a lot of sports ( including swimming for awhile). I drive them to practice and pick them up. I will give other kids a ride if needed. I go to the games and cheer for the team. I say thank to the coaches at the end of the game. That is it. That is the only "participation" I need to do. I give my kids space. I am not on the team. I do need to go to pep rallys and galas and dances and hover around and party with the other parents. Swim teach subculture is weird. If you like it, fine. But you have to admit that it is different than other sports. I personally think it is a bit much in terms of parental involvement and social events.

Sorry typo, I meant : "I do NOT need to go"

Anonymous wrote:What is so weird about Swim team?

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Anonymous wrote:OP here, btw, all the boys (I do not have any) looked adorable -- collared shorts and dress pants and hair combed. And PP is correct, it is only the swim team parents and the kids from 6-18 on the team, so not a lot of exposure but still so strange.....

The age range is the problem here. What is appropriate party dress and party activities for that matter for 15-18 year olds, is not what is appropriate for kids 6-10. There should be a kid end of year blow out party and a teen Gala, if a Gala needs to happen. 14+ for the Gala if need be.

That is the beauty of summer swim -- the 6 year old is just as important as the 18 year old and they make up one team

+1 totally agree. To see teenagers connecting with the younger kids teaching them how to swim and cheering them on at the meets is why I love swim team. It is very unique and refreshing to see when so many other sports are so competive and tnot as supportive of other team members,

Sure, it's great for swim team. But what is an appropriate party for a 6-10 year old is very different from what is appropriate for an older teen. An appropriate party for the younger group would be a family event, something so lame that the older kids would roll their eyes at being expected to make an appearance! Having a fancy dress up Gala with teen girls in revealing dresses is not appropriate for the younger kids. That's where the difficulty is coming from.

Have a family party and remind kids to dress appropriately.

You have no clue what you are talking about. The OP is the only poster who said their swim team had these girls who caked on the makeup and wore false eyelashes. every other psoter who attended a swim team gala said yes, the older kids wore short dresses but not all the makeup. At our swim team banquet, the younger and older kids all dressed up and enjoy celebrating together their successes as a team. Many teams, including ours, puts together a video of the season. After the younger and older kids dance. They have a blast and no parent is sitting their saying that the younger kdis shouldn't be there because teenagers are wearing short dresses.

All of those objecting need to get out and participate instead of criticizing from the outside. Maybe if you involved in your kids in activities which you did not try to control everything, your kids woudl learn to enjoy something just for the experience and the fun.

This statement is contradictory. You say parents need to "get out and participate", but should also "involve your kids in activities in which you do not try to control everything". My kids have participated in a lot of sports ( including swimming for awhile). I drive them to practice and pick them up. I will give other kids a ride if needed. I go to the games and cheer for the team. I say thank to the coaches at the end of the game. That is it. That is the only "participation" I need to do. I give my kids space. I am not on the team. I do need to go to pep rallys and galas and dances and hover around and party with the other parents. Swim teach subculture is weird. If you like it, fine. But you have to admit that it is different than other sports. I personally think it is a bit much in terms of parental involvement and social events.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here, btw, all the boys (I do not have any) looked adorable -- collared shorts and dress pants and hair combed. And PP is correct, it is only the swim team parents and the kids from 6-18 on the team, so not a lot of exposure but still so strange.....

The age range is the problem here. What is appropriate party dress and party activities for that matter for 15-18 year olds, is not what is appropriate for kids 6-10. There should be a kid end of year blow out party and a teen Gala, if a Gala needs to happen. 14+ for the Gala if need be.

That is the beauty of summer swim -- the 6 year old is just as important as the 18 year old and they make up one team

+1 totally agree. To see teenagers connecting with the younger kids teaching them how to swim and cheering them on at the meets is why I love swim team. It is very unique and refreshing to see when so many other sports are so competive and tnot as supportive of other team members,

Sure, it's great for swim team. But what is an appropriate party for a 6-10 year old is very different from what is appropriate for an older teen. An appropriate party for the younger group would be a family event, something so lame that the older kids would roll their eyes at being expected to make an appearance! Having a fancy dress up Gala with teen girls in revealing dresses is not appropriate for the younger kids. That's where the difficulty is coming from.

Have a family party and remind kids to dress appropriately.

You have no clue what you are talking about. The OP is the only poster who said their swim team had these girls who caked on the makeup and wore false eyelashes. every other psoter who attended a swim team gala said yes, the older kids wore short dresses but not all the makeup. At our swim team banquet, the younger and older kids all dressed up and enjoy celebrating together their successes as a team. Many teams, including ours, puts together a video of the season. After the younger and older kids dance. They have a blast and no parent is sitting their saying that the younger kdis shouldn't be there because teenagers are wearing short dresses.

All of those objecting need to get out and participate instead of criticizing from the outside. Maybe if you involved in your kids in activities which you did not try to control everything, your kids woudl learn to enjoy something just for the experience and the fun.

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here, btw, all the boys (I do not have any) looked adorable -- collared shorts and dress pants and hair combed. And PP is correct, it is only the swim team parents and the kids from 6-18 on the team, so not a lot of exposure but still so strange.....

The age range is the problem here. What is appropriate party dress and party activities for that matter for 15-18 year olds, is not what is appropriate for kids 6-10. There should be a kid end of year blow out party and a teen Gala, if a Gala needs to happen. 14+ for the Gala if need be.

That is the beauty of summer swim -- the 6 year old is just as important as the 18 year old and they make up one team

+1 totally agree. To see teenagers connecting with the younger kids teaching them how to swim and cheering them on at the meets is why I love swim team. It is very unique and refreshing to see when so many other sports are so competive and tnot as supportive of other team members,

Sure, it's great for swim team. But what is an appropriate party for a 6-10 year old is very different from what is appropriate for an older teen. An appropriate party for the younger group would be a family event, something so lame that the older kids would roll their eyes at being expected to make an appearance! Having a fancy dress up Gala with teen girls in revealing dresses is not appropriate for the younger kids. That's where the difficulty is coming from.

Have a family party and remind kids to dress appropriately.

You have no clue what you are talking about. The OP is the only poster who said their swim team had these girls who caked on the makeup and wore false eyelashes. every other psoter who attended a swim team gala said yes, the older kids wore short dresses but not all the makeup. At our swim team banquet, the younger and older kids all dressed up and enjoy celebrating together their successes as a team. Many teams, including ours, puts together a video of the season. After the younger and older kids dance. They have a blast and no parent is sitting their saying that the younger kdis shouldn't be there because teenagers are wearing short dresses.

All of those objecting need to get out and participate instead of criticizing from the outside. Maybe if you involved in your kids in activities which you did not try to control everything, your kids woudl learn to enjoy something just for the experience and the fun.

you have no idea what you are talking about. I bet your daughter was one of the ones dressed appropriately. And OP's kid was there too but didn't need to control kid like you to live out your social scene because you cannot do it without going through your kid. You are the control freak.

I thnk you hit the alcohol too soon. I have no clue what you are trying to say. It makes no sense. And I have boys so I could csre less what the girls wear.

you make no sense. First you advocate foe 13 year olds wearing make-up and shorts dresses and then you say you you could care less what the girls wear. You should if you are a parent of boys or girls. But the fact that your first thought is alcohol explains it all. Pity your boys.

Anonymous wrote:I love swimteam,esp the mixing of ages, the cheering each other on, the freedom at the pool. 5 years in, plan on many more with our girls. Dinner at our pool, potluck, slide show, just a great time. Yes some dresses, but the girls looked sweet.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here, btw, all the boys (I do not have any) looked adorable -- collared shorts and dress pants and hair combed. And PP is correct, it is only the swim team parents and the kids from 6-18 on the team, so not a lot of exposure but still so strange.....

The age range is the problem here. What is appropriate party dress and party activities for that matter for 15-18 year olds, is not what is appropriate for kids 6-10. There should be a kid end of year blow out party and a teen Gala, if a Gala needs to happen. 14+ for the Gala if need be.

That is the beauty of summer swim -- the 6 year old is just as important as the 18 year old and they make up one team

+1 totally agree. To see teenagers connecting with the younger kids teaching them how to swim and cheering them on at the meets is why I love swim team. It is very unique and refreshing to see when so many other sports are so competive and tnot as supportive of other team members,

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here, btw, all the boys (I do not have any) looked adorable -- collared shorts and dress pants and hair combed. And PP is correct, it is only the swim team parents and the kids from 6-18 on the team, so not a lot of exposure but still so strange.....

The age range is the problem here. What is appropriate party dress and party activities for that matter for 15-18 year olds, is not what is appropriate for kids 6-10. There should be a kid end of year blow out party and a teen Gala, if a Gala needs to happen. 14+ for the Gala if need be.

That is the beauty of summer swim -- the 6 year old is just as important as the 18 year old and they make up one team

+1 totally agree. To see teenagers connecting with the younger kids teaching them how to swim and cheering them on at the meets is why I love swim team. It is very unique and refreshing to see when so many other sports are so competive and tnot as supportive of other team members,

Sure, it's great for swim team. But what is an appropriate party for a 6-10 year old is very different from what is appropriate for an older teen. An appropriate party for the younger group would be a family event, something so lame that the older kids would roll their eyes at being expected to make an appearance! Having a fancy dress up Gala with teen girls in revealing dresses is not appropriate for the younger kids. That's where the difficulty is coming from.

Have a family party and remind kids to dress appropriately.

You have no clue what you are talking about. The OP is the only poster who said their swim team had these girls who caked on the makeup and wore false eyelashes. every other psoter who attended a swim team gala said yes, the older kids wore short dresses but not all the makeup. At our swim team banquet, the younger and older kids all dressed up and enjoy celebrating together their successes as a team. Many teams, including ours, puts together a video of the season. After the younger and older kids dance. They have a blast and no parent is sitting their saying that the younger kdis shouldn't be there because teenagers are wearing short dresses.

All of those objecting need to get out and participate instead of criticizing from the outside. Maybe if you involved in your kids in activities which you did not try to control everything, your kids woudl learn to enjoy something just for the experience and the fun.

you have no idea what you are talking about. I bet your daughter was one of the ones dressed appropriately. And OP's kid was there too but didn't need to control kid like you to live out your social scene because you cannot do it without going through your kid. You are the control freak.

I thnk you hit the alcohol too soon. I have no clue what you are trying to say. It makes no sense. And I have boys so I could csre less what the girls wear.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here, btw, all the boys (I do not have any) looked adorable -- collared shorts and dress pants and hair combed. And PP is correct, it is only the swim team parents and the kids from 6-18 on the team, so not a lot of exposure but still so strange.....

The age range is the problem here. What is appropriate party dress and party activities for that matter for 15-18 year olds, is not what is appropriate for kids 6-10. There should be a kid end of year blow out party and a teen Gala, if a Gala needs to happen. 14+ for the Gala if need be.

That is the beauty of summer swim -- the 6 year old is just as important as the 18 year old and they make up one team

+1 totally agree. To see teenagers connecting with the younger kids teaching them how to swim and cheering them on at the meets is why I love swim team. It is very unique and refreshing to see when so many other sports are so competive and tnot as supportive of other team members,

Sure, it's great for swim team. But what is an appropriate party for a 6-10 year old is very different from what is appropriate for an older teen. An appropriate party for the younger group would be a family event, something so lame that the older kids would roll their eyes at being expected to make an appearance! Having a fancy dress up Gala with teen girls in revealing dresses is not appropriate for the younger kids. That's where the difficulty is coming from.

Have a family party and remind kids to dress appropriately.

You have no clue what you are talking about. The OP is the only poster who said their swim team had these girls who caked on the makeup and wore false eyelashes. every other psoter who attended a swim team gala said yes, the older kids wore short dresses but not all the makeup. At our swim team banquet, the younger and older kids all dressed up and enjoy celebrating together their successes as a team. Many teams, including ours, puts together a video of the season. After the younger and older kids dance. They have a blast and no parent is sitting their saying that the younger kdis shouldn't be there because teenagers are wearing short dresses.

All of those objecting need to get out and participate instead of criticizing from the outside. Maybe if you involved in your kids in activities which you did not try to control everything, your kids woudl learn to enjoy something just for the experience and the fun.

you have no idea what you are talking about. I bet your daughter was one of the ones dressed appropriately. And OP's kid was there too but didn't need to control kid like you to live out your social scene because you cannot do it without going through your kid. You are the control freak.