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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To keep son off on sports day

104 replies

Hiccups1 · 12/05/2024 20:55

Hi, after some opinions please as I’m unsure what to do. My son is 6 nearly 7. He has autism and hates sports day. He’s not sporty and comes last in most races. I know somebody has to come last but he won’t accept it. The last few years has been horrible to watch. He gets upsets during and after the race. I’ve had to attend to him multiple times to reassure and calm him down during the events. He suffers with anxiety and gets so worked up about it. I swore last year I wouldn’t send him on sports day this year as it’s not kind for him to experience and as a parents it’s not nice seeing your child like that. but now it’s coming around again I don’t know what to do. I understand we teach our children it’s not about winning but the taking part, but no matter how much I say this to him, he cannot comprehend it as part of his autism. Would I be unreasonable to keep him off and say he’s unwell? Or am I making a rod for my own back?

OP posts:
trampoline123 · 12/05/2024 21:00

Keep him off and go for a nice day out.

GoodVibesHere · 12/05/2024 21:00

YANBU

100% keep him home. No need to put him through it.

PTSDBarbiegirl · 12/05/2024 20:59

Keep him off, don't even think about it. You're right, it's too much for him and you can rightly opt him out. No need to makeup an excuse, just explain it's anxiety issues, might make the school plan for the needs of SEN kids a bit more.

Hawdyerwheesht · 12/05/2024 20:58

Yanbu