[sweetpeas]

What would happen if you just let them not get ready in time, and not get to go to swimming? That's what "Love and Logic" (which for some reason rubs me wrong in it's tone) and "Loving our Kids on Purpose" (which says basically the same thing, but the tone doesn't rub me wrong ) would recommend. I pick and choose, as long as the children are the only ones affected, I think it can work well, if them not going to swimming means the whole team suffers, then I'm less willing.

One possibility . . . when my girls wanted to take music lessons, I told them this isn't going to be one more thing I have to nag you about, AND I'm not spending money on something you're not utilizing, if you're going to take music lessons you are responsible for practicing regularly, or you're done. They've been great about it, sometimes when our life is out-of-control hectic, I'll remind them, because I can see that this one 30 min period is the only possible time today that they could practice, and they're kids and not as likely to see that, but normally, they take total responsibility. So, to translate that into your situation, could you tell them that you're tired of having to scream at them to get ready for swim meet/practice, if it's not important to them, then maybe they need to quit the team? Assuming you're willing to follow through with that, if they don't care enough to take responsibility?