8 Things To Do At The Beach If You Are Not A Mom Who Swims

This post has nothing to do with being too self-conscious to wear a bathing suit and everything to do with just not wanting to swim. I have never been a big swimmer. Even as a child I was content to sit on the steps of a pool and chat or take a quick dip and get out. I am the same way at lakes or the ocean- I may play in the surf but I don’t like to be submerged. I get icked out by things touching me in the water and not being able to see it all and I don’t enjoy being splashed by people around me. It’s just not my thing.

Luckily, my husband is a very good swimmer and loves doing it so he is always willing to go in the water with our kids for however long they please. I am so grateful for this as it gives me time to do other things. What other things, you may ask? See below for 8 things to do at the beach if you don’t swim.

 

1. Read!

Duh. This is the most obvious summer past-time for the non-swimmers among us but thanks to tablets and e-readers, it is now easier than ever. I happily spend the months before summer accumulating books and magazines on my Kindle and iPad to read in the shade while my husband and kids run around in the water. Ahhhh.

 

2. Give yourself a pedicure.

Nothing exfoliates and softens your feet like sand! I love to dig my feet around and then rub them together letting nature slough away dead skin and callouses. I don’t usually paint my nails at the beach but I will massage the cuticles and rub foot lotion in once I am done with my sand exfoliation. Like the spa, only free.

 

3. People watch

This is the best ever. I don’t think I even need to elaborate on why.

 

4. Write out your meal plan for the next few weeks.

I love to relax in a lounge chair whilst collecting recipes on my tablet and doing out my grocery list. Not to mention, I tend to get lazy with this kind of thing during the summer and then my grocery bill gets huge because I go free-range and buy everything I see. This way, I am being economical and also, occupying myself. Win-win.

 

5. Drink.

I bring pre-made cocktails in a Thermos that my mother and I have dubbed our Special Beverage. Special indeed.

 

6.  And then, take a nap.

I think there is a whole corridor in heaven dedicated to beach naps. They are pretty much the most wonderful thing ever invented. Falling asleep to the sounds of the water, surrounded by a warm breeze is basically my idea of amazing.

 

7. Make lists

This is different from meal planning. I am a habitual list maker and I love the feeling I have when I have gotten the clutter out of my brain and organized into tidy bullet points. With the new school year coming up, a relaxing summer day at the beach is the perfect time to write out lists of what you need to buy the kids before summer’s end. It is nice to think about these perfunctory parenting tasks in a mode of total relaxation rather than while harried at Target with your kids swarming around you and the mystical Target Gods telling you to buy All The Things.

 

8. Stretch

Basically everything is more pleasant outdoors on the sand with the sun shining and exercise is no exception. I love to stretch out on my beach towel and get myself nice and limber. So I can get up easily and make another cocktail. Happy Summer, everyone!

 

(Image: Mila Supinskaya/Shutterstock)