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Ophelia
she's baaccckkkk ;)
Member since 5/06 23378 total posts
Name:
remember, when Gulliver traveled....
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On the flip side of swimming...would you mention something?
I noticed the other day that my 7-year-old niece is NOT a good swimmer.
she is certainly no where near as good a swimmer as her older sister was at her age.
she's kind of gotten the younger sibling shaft in certain respects, especially with classes and lessons (as reported to me by my MIL in gentler words  ) but I feel like this is an issue.
she loves the water and likes to get in and play, so above all this is more of a water safety issue to me than anything else.
two years ago I almost drowned trying to get her out of the deep end of an in ground pool. I wasn't expecting her to jump in and she did and I never really got into proper position, so I stayed under holding her above until I finally felt my feet touching the shallow end of the pool.
I was hoping she'd be better by now but clearly she's not.
would you say something to the parents? her father isn't a swimmer so not sure how serious they take it. she can dog paddle. but she can't swim straight across the WIDTH of the pool, let alone the length. 
I should add that I don't really get along well with her mom, so that kind of adds to my hesitance.
if you would say something, how would you phrase it?
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Posted 7/13/10 10:50 AM  |
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Long Island Weddings
Long Island's Largest Bridal Resource |
Shorty
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Member since 5/05 30390 total posts
Name:
really
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Re: On the flip side of swimming...would you mention something?
I probably wouldn't say something, but I'd work with the child to help her learn... or maybe if there's a birthday or something coming, I'd get her some swim lessons.
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| Posted 7/13/10 10:53 AM |
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nov04libride
big brother <3
Member since 5/05 14672 total posts
Name:
Me
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Re: On the flip side of swimming...would you mention something?
Posted by Shorty
I probably wouldn't say something, but I'd work with the child to help her learn... or maybe if there's a birthday or something coming, I'd get her some swim lessons.
that's a great idea!
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| Posted 7/13/10 10:55 AM |
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Ophelia
she's baaccckkkk ;)
Member since 5/06 23378 total posts
Name:
remember, when Gulliver traveled....
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Re: On the flip side of swimming...would you mention something?
Posted by nov04libride
Posted by Shorty
I probably wouldn't say something, but I'd work with the child to help her learn... or maybe if there's a birthday or something coming, I'd get her some swim lessons.
that's a great idea!
actually her bday is 8/2 and normally I would jump at the chance but then who would bring her?
that is the issue.
I can't b/c I work. my MIL cares for her but isn't as spry as she used to be, plus she would have to take Luce...which would be fine if they could have lessons at the same time but the age difference means that they can't.
I guess I could try to take her to the pool at least once a week and work with her. but I don't know how consistently I can do that.
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| Posted 7/13/10 10:58 AM |
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CrankyPants
I'm cranky
Member since 7/06 18178 total posts
Name:
Mama Cranky
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Re: On the flip side of swimming...would you mention something?
I would say something, even just to the dad. Do they know about the incident the year before?
In any case, I would suggest they could get her a life vest or something, even if no lessons.
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| Posted 7/13/10 11:00 AM |
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Ophelia
she's baaccckkkk ;)
Member since 5/06 23378 total posts
Name:
remember, when Gulliver traveled....
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Re: On the flip side of swimming...would you mention something?
Posted by CrankyPants
I would say something, even just to the dad. Do they know about the incident the year before?
I think they are mildly aware. I didn't make a big thing out of it b/c I didn't want to scare her. I was in the water and she jumped in to be with me. I swam us both of to the shallow end, made sure she was ok (she was fine...thought it was fun  ) caught my breath and told her not to jump in the deep end without her swimmies AND to make sure the person in the pool was ready for her.
but it wasn't a dive-in rescue on my part. it was an "oh ****, we're both gonna drown" sloppy job on my part.
Posted by CrankyPants
In any case, I would suggest they could get her a life vest or something, even if no lessons.
the thing is, they own a kiddie pool. they have no need for a life vest unless they are visiting others...
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| Posted 7/13/10 11:06 AM |
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CookiePuss
Cake from Outer Space!
Member since 5/05 14021 total posts
Name:
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Re: On the flip side of swimming...would you mention something?
I would talk to her about it. She needs to realize her limitations and learn about water safety. Even a strong swimmer needs to know water safety and how to remain safe. I would do that first because she may never be a strong swimmer but she will always need to know water safety.
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| Posted 7/13/10 11:08 AM |
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CookiePuss
Cake from Outer Space!
Member since 5/05 14021 total posts
Name:
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Re: On the flip side of swimming...would you mention something?
Posted by CrankyPants
I would say something, even just to the dad. Do they know about the incident the year before?
In any case, I would suggest they could get her a life vest or something, even if no lessons.
I would caution against using a life vest until the child knows certain things about being in the water...such as just knowing to flip on to your back.
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| Posted 7/13/10 11:08 AM |
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