First monofin! Family woes...

[MermaidSolstice]

I just order my first monofin (its a finfun, gotta start somewhere) and will order a tail skin before the summer is out. So excited! I can't wait to try it out and see how it'll affect my dolphin kick.

However, amidst the excitement, I can't help but feel a sharp pain that my family will not understand and think that my new spin on swimming is retarded, frivolous, illogical, and downright stupid. As it is, my dad responds to my swimming as "you still keeping at that?" in a derogatory tone. Not to mention the impending lecture (usually when I least expect it) that I'm wasting my money.

I'm having some serious anxiety because my monofin will be delivered on a day I'm not home so I can't just stash it and hope they don't ask.


Any advice or good arguments I could use? HAs/does anyone else relate? How did your family react to your merness?

[Azurin Luna]

Tell him the monofin is for practice and exercise, that you like to keep in shape. Sorry I have no more useful responses for you, I never had to deal with such situations.

[Mermaid Alea]

Why does your Dad ask if you are still keeping up swimming?

Exercise sounds like a good answer. On Finis's website they say that monofin swimming helps activate 60% of your muscle mass. You could also mention that freedivers use monofins.

I watched a video today where a mermaid said to be confident about being a mermaid. If you aren't confident, then people will think you are weird because you are making it weird. I think that is great advise so just keep in mind that while it is hard to be confident about being into something different, you should really own it. If you are passionate about wanting to start mermaiding then you shouldn't feel shy about it. I don't know you but I'm proud of you for buying that monofin. :hug:

I thought my parents would think mermaiding was a silly idea. I worked up the courage to ask for a monofin for Christmas one year and they thought it sounded cool and they were totally behind it. My Mom has helped me get probably the best mermaid photos I have of myself and my Dad has offered to go with me to places I want to swim at since he knows I have trouble finding someone to go with me (I don't like going places alone and also, you shouldn't swim alone).

[MermaidSolstice]

To be honest, I don't think he believes that I'm actually swimming. He never sees me do it. I used to get up at 5 in the morning to do yoga before school/work and got really into it, but never saw me do it. So when I asked for some help paying to take a class for it, he said no because it would be a waste of money (but he insists he would pay for a gym membership if I would use it).

It bothers me because I have always been an active person, so it shouldn't be a surprise to him and I have no clue where he started to get these ideas from. The only reason I have ever 'quit' or 'stopped doing something' was due to relocation.

But I should just let that be his problem and not worry about it (easier said than done).

[Mermaid Alea]

That makes more sense. So I'm not experienced with gyms, but I googled if any gyms offer free yoga classes and YMCA came up as offering free yoga and other free fitness classes (https://www.ymcatriangle.org/programs-services/fitness/free-group-fitness-classes). You could look into that.

[MermaidSolstice]

Thanks. I didn't see my YMCA listed but I'll keep a look out.

[seaair16]

I just order my first monofin (its a finfun, gotta start somewhere) and will order a tail skin before the summer is out. So excited! I can't wait to try it out and see how it'll affect my dolphin kick.

However, amidst the excitement, I can't help but feel a sharp pain that my family will not understand and think that my new spin on swimming is retarded, frivolous, illogical, and downright stupid. As it is, my dad responds to my swimming as "you still keeping at that?" in a derogatory tone. Not to mention the impending lecture (usually when I least expect it) that I'm wasting my money.

I'm having some serious anxiety because my monofin will be delivered on a day I'm not home so I can't just stash it and hope they don't ask.


Any advice or good arguments I could use? HAs/does anyone else relate? How did your family react to your merness?

Don’t worry you dad will come round to the idea make sure you’re pool allows monofins. Just tell him that you’re thinking of joining the diving club so you practicing to see if you like it. But it’s batter to tell the truth be honest with him if he loves you he will accept it might take a while. He is going to find out anyway.


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