To demand a parents evening meeting when I next have to pick my son up?

[OnlyParentsAreReal]

I was informed today at pick up that it's parents evening tomorrow (first time I'm hearing of this) and my time slot is 7.15pm! I immediately said that wasn't possible as that is past my son's bed time to which they replied "oh well". There are a few things I've been meaning to bring up with them anyway and my son isn't in tomorrow. Would I be unreasonable to demand a parent's evening meeting next time Im there for pick up?

[CoffeenoTea]

Why demand? Are you unable to ask nice way?

[eyebrowsonfleek]

Yes. Yabu because someone may have been assigned a slot straight after school.

Yanbu to request a different slot on another day though.

[eyebrowsonfleek]

Are you allowed to take kids? Some schools say parents/carers only.
(I bet you’re going to say that you’re a single parent with no babysitter now 😛)

[BarbarianMum]

Is it the first time you're hearing of this because the information has just been released, or because you've missed a letter/not looked at the school website?

[Crumbs1]

I find asking politely when might be a mutually convenient time is more effective than stroppy demands.

[MarmaladeIsMyJam]

You must have missed the letter, not really their problem? What does it matter that your son isn't in tomorrow?

[Sirzy]

Why not just ask if you can arrange a meeting at a mutually convienent time in the future?

[HollyandBrambles]

Sounds like a bit of an over reaction, no need to ‘demand’

How come you didn’t know? Is it last minute for everyone or have you missed a letter/email?

[Appuskidu]

Why do you need to demand anything? Are you always so rude?

[Dauphinoise]

You must have missed a letter or email. Parents evenings need to be planned. We had the opportunity to pick a timeslot. If we didn't pick our own, 2 days before, they would assign a time to us. So I called the office and chose a slot that was convenient.

Children aren't allowed to parents evenings at our school so I also organised a babysitter for an hour.

I'd find it very strange for a school to just throw an impromptu parents evening with only 24hrs notice.

[Jerseysilkvelour]

Are you a single parent? Is that the reason going after bedtime is inconvenient? If so, asking for another time would be perfectly reasonable.

If not, honestly yabu.

And - and this is also life advice - demanding things is not nice. Just explain the problem and ask nicely!

[Hmmalittlefishy]

Why are you demanding anything?
Have you been allocated that slot as all the others are fully booked? Ours is done online and spaces go quickly.
Parents usually have more than 24hr notice for parents evening
Why isn't your son in school tomorrow? Are non of the pupils?
Maybe ask nicely if you can rearrange to a mutually convenient time and see that that gets you much further than demanding

[OnlyParentsAreReal]

I think some of you are misunderstanding what the world demand means in this context. I say demand as in ask but do not except no as an appropriate answer

[Sirzy]

No I think we all know what demand means and to demand would be rude.

[Blondephantom]

You catch more flies with honey. I would ask to rearrange.

If a parent asks me to arrange a meeting or often just asks for a quick word then that is usually fine. If for any reason I can’t then arranging something that suits both of us would be my next step. ‘Demand’ and I’m probably going to insist on arranging the meeting for when a member of SLT is available to attend.

[OnlyParentsAreReal]

Yea the kids are supposed to be there. But also yes I am his only carer

[ColinCreevy]

I highly doubt this was the first opportunity for you to find out about it. There would have been a letter or email or post on the newsletter.
On that basis alone yabu to "demand" anything. Get it together. It's a priority especially if you have concerns to raise.

[cheesypastatonight]

You haven't said why you didn't know about it. Our school emails two weeks in advance and we go online and choose an appointment time.
Why didn't you know?

[BishBoshBashBop]

I think some of you are misunderstanding what the world demand means in this context.

No we aren't

I say demand as in ask but do not except no as an appropriate answer

That's a contradiction and it is demanding.

[OnlyParentsAreReal]

He's not there tomorrow atleast so it would be Thursday, Friday, or next week the next time I pick him up

[luckyDuvet]

Won't hurt him to stay up a bit late just the once.

[Sirzy]

So phone the office tomorrow and let them know you won’t be able to make it and can the teacher contact you when they get a chance to arrange a mutually convenient time to meet up instead

[Glumglowworm]

YABU to demand (or ask but not take no for an answer )

You have obviously missed previous communication about this.

You need to ASK (and accept the answer may be no or at least not right now) to rearrange at another time.

Or get your child's other parent to stay home with them and go tomorrow. Or hire a babysitter, if it's after bedtime it's hardly a huge responsibility.