What would you do???..... (a little long sorry)

[foreva*your*mummy]

this is strange isnt it! I would take him back when he is due to go sat?, and see how he is. mayb try talking to him about the swimming and all that ( im sure you have done this). See how he goes on the next visit and decide from there. hope its ok

[mrsmac]

I tend to trust my babies instincts on things like this if its so out of character for him to react like that I wouldn't take him there.

[Ozziehoffy]

I just spoke to DH about this AGAIN...lol... I just can't get this off my mind. He's leaning towards taking him but if he reacts then we go, no getting in the water or anything. With his very first lesson where he was going, he cried, but only after getting in the water. The next week they said to bring him early so he could get in and have a play to get comfy being in the pool and this worked brilliantly and the next week he was jumping to get in for his lesson. I asked if we could do this and she said no and also didn't answer when I asked if we didn't continue lessons there cos he was still afraid if we could get money back, she just avoided it with saying oh I've never met a child who didn't get over it.... you just need to give them a good few lessons. That didn't sit the best with me and on the way home I was almost in tears. I think for a mixture of reasons, being that I kinda didn't like that they seem to be so "this is how we do it and it's the same rules for everyone" (which is what they do say - if we let one then everyone else wants to... ummm riiiight) and also I thought OMG have I just lost $70!!! There's an enrolment fee plus lessons. *sighs* have I made a mistake???

Celsie, exactly!! I don't want him to be afraid. We live in QLD and we're surrounded by water. He needs to know how to swim or at least get himself out of trouble.

Krissy, it was REALLY strange, he just kinda started to breath a little faster then cried.

mrsmac, that is true... this is why I think I've been struggling a bit with this decision... babies and animals have amazing instincts so I haven't been sure if it was him being scared or if he's warning me IYKWIM.

[mbear]

Hon, imagine that place in summer - if its hot and stuffy in the middle of winter, imagine what it will be like mid February...nah, its your lil mans and yours recreation time, you want to enjoy it. Why put him thru that......

[Celsie]

I would give consumer affairs a call. Explain that you can't take you son, because he's terrified of the "tent" like structure they have covering the pool, yet you can't afford to lose $70. I'm willing to bet that they'll say you're within your rights to ask for a refund, considering he's never even got so much as a toe wet.

Let us know how you go!

[Janie]

Cass, I'd trust your instincts on this one.........by all means take him to swimming lessons, but GO SOMEWHERE ELSE. Oscar is obviously unhappy in that place, and it doesn't sound like you were too pleased either. It's just too important IMO. It must be hard for you, but I really think he's trying to tell you something.

[paradise lost]

As a rule i never ignore an instinct, no matter what the cost. Call the people Celsie mentioned (it's a different agency in the UK) and see about getting a refund.

Best of luck hun

Bx