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

[Ozziehoffy]

I've tried to make this as short as possible with all the details.

Oskar has been going to swimming lessons, however this term they changed the time and it's just too early in the morning for him. It was 9:40am and now is 9:10am.... not a problem?? Well, he doesn't usually wake up until between 8-8:30am sometimes even a bit later. So, the old time was a push anyway.

I went and found another swim school (the only reason being the time prob with the old one - they were good in every other way) and took him there yesterday to enrol etc. The pool there is in like a big enclosed tent - those clear plastic like cafe blind things, but with a roof. It was REALLY stuffy and warm and he started to breath fast then cried his little heart out, like a perplexed afraid cry. It took him a little bit to calm down. I did the paperwork then said to the lady that I'd take him back in there to see how he went and before he even got to the door of the waiting room (which is a NORMAL door and room) he started to get visibly upset and had a perplexed look on his face. None of this behaviour is normal for him at all. She kept asking me, is he usually like this in new places/around new people... and I'm like NO NO NO!! He's such an easy going little man and the cry was a piercing one like afraid in the middle of the night cry.

I'm really now not sure what to do, do I take him on Saturday and see how he reacts or do I call them and tell them that we don't need to enrol him there anymore??? I don't want him to become afraid Something just doesn't feel right, but I'm not sure if it's me worried that he's going to get really upset again or if it's a gut feeling. What would you do?? What would you say if you decided not to go there?? I've already paid for one month as they have a policy of one month in advance. Please give me some advice or opinions. Thanks for reading.

[Celsie]

If it were me, I wouldn't take him there. You don't want to create a fear that he'll associate with swimming, which may lead to a fear of water, IYKWIM? And, if he's terrified, he's not going to enjoy it anyway.

Maybe ask if you can postpone his lessons for a month or two and try taking him back when he's a little older?

[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......