I know: “don’t eat for an hour after you swim”. That’s the common rule that most people know. If you do, the tale goes, you could end up with a side-splitting cramp and drown by being tragically immobilized by your steak and salad, sinking under the water, never to rise again.
I suppose there is always a chance. So, I guess I’m taking a risk, but I go swimming anyways.
This is how I see it: I’m not eating a double Thanksgiving dinner and then going out to tackle Michael Phelps in an Olympic-sized lane-hogger.
I’m just going to the local outdoor pool with my family after dinner- and I love it. We’re basically taking a brief dip in the water, to cool off. It’s fantastic.
Here’s why I love it:
1) You Get Some Space
For those of us without a pool in the backyard, if you’re in a suburban or urban setting and your community has a local, public, outdoor pool- it can be a saving grace. But it can also be PACKED to the nines on a hot, summer afternoon. We’re talking elbows bumping.
Swimming late in the day can give you a lot more room to play in the water.
2) SHADE!
Blessed is the sun that moves. Swimming after dinner means that, for the most part, there’s a bit of shade covering some part of the pool, somewhere. Slathering on sunscreen can even be avoided, if you’re not in there too long.
3) Splashing is at a Minimum
After dinner, I find that most of the rowdy (yet fun) pre-teens and teens are now at home chill-axing on their devices, or away doing something like being busy with baseball practice.
And so the in-your-face splash-factor is reduced, making for a more peaceful swim in the pool.
4) You Get a Great Night’s Sleep
Swimming and sleep go hand in hand, at least in this house. If you’re feeling restless, there’s nothing like hitting the waves!
5) You Get to Unwind as a Family
Swimming can be great family time. If you have kids, the hours at the end of the day can often be spent in different corners of the home: someone is watching TV, someone else is on the Internet, mom is washing dinner dishes, and dad is playing in the backyard with a kid. It happens.
Going swimming as a group puts our family ADD to rest. It brings us together and we all benefit.
Remember, there are only 37 days of summer left. I know, how could I say it. Time to dive in!
