Swimming

I don't like getting wet. In the last 40 years I have been in 2 hot springs and 1 pool for 5 mins. 

But a swimming pool is cold, indoors, full of chlorine, noisy, has echoes, has a wet floor, awkward changing rooms, lockers, and in your case you are under time pressure as well, so I can see why you don't like it.

What I don't get is why people go at all.

I see someone mentioned a paddling pool if you have a garden. My son loved his and we had a shade over it. 

Children can visit a pool when they are older, so they aren't missing out. When I was young our town didn't have a pool, so I only had a paddling pool. I learnt to swim when I was older.

I love swimming in the sea but like you, I am uncomfortable in public swimming pools, mainly because the chlorine smell is too intense and I dislike the changing rooms. You are great to be taking your toddlers to the pool despite the challenges.

I also avoid public loos where possible, and haven’t used one for many years.

I absolutely hated public swimming pools, just the smell of the chlorine was off-putting enough, and I always felt so cold when coming out of the pool. I never managed to learn to swim in a pool, although I only had a limited amount of lessons when taken there by the school PE teachers.

When I was in my early teens, I finally learned to swim at the beach. My cousins were with me and I just went for it and swam. I was never a strong swimmer though, and I don't ever swim now. 

Just remember, if they're still toddlers they have loads of time to learn this skill. I agree with Iain that it isn't exactly essential, and not urgent. As he suggested, I would just do it when it's possible to get away for a holiday or short break by the beach.

I'm the meantime, plan activities that you and your toddlers will all enjoy. Life's too short to make yourself suffer.

Asparagus said:

realise I’m depriving my toddlers of essential skills and experience

I don't think the pool is essential. It certainly is a nice thing of you like it (I'm not a fan). Any event that has lots of parent with child interaction would be a good substifute I suspect.

Could you take them to the beach for a longer break? If it is an hours drive to the pool then is it much more if you decide to do a seaside visit for a much more involved day out?

Can your partner do weekends / days off with you by the beach? That would be a great way to get them involved in this aspect of your kids lives.

Do you have a garden? Maybe a paddling pool is a good option to get them familiar with the water without all the chlorine.

It sounds like you are doing a lot for your kids already so be kind to yourself.

I used to be OK-ish with swimming in the local pool when I was a kid, but the mere thought of it now gives me the willies. I think it was more of a novelty when I was younger (an upside of ADHD), but now that the novelty has worn off it's just sensory hell (a downside of Autism). It's the changing room as much as the pool that freaks me out, maybe even more so.

I applaud you bringing along your toddlers, giving them a great experience and taking one for the team. How about doing more of the togging in/out when you're at home? Arrive at the pool ready to jump in (almost). Then, after your swim, wrap your toddlers in bath robes, plonk them in their car seats and sort out all the changing when you get back to your house. They'd probably think it's great fun.

I’m not particularly a huge fan of swimming, especially beaches (I think it’s a sensory thing), but I can understand how the experience is worse when you have to take care of your children. There’s potentially so much stimuli at a swimming pool, and on top of that you have your kids’ safety to worry about.

Yeah, I think it makes a lot of sense.