To leave my 7 yr old home alone for 30mins ?

Do any of your friends have a teenager who has finished school for the summer who could sit at your house for a few quid. You could ask your 7 year old to stay upstairs and shout down if they need anything to avoid chickenpox exposure. Gutted for you. For those saying year 6 graduation is not “thing” - we had our leavers assembly and 3 of the girls cried all the way through it as their Dads had not appeared despite promising they’d be there 🥲

Seven is very different from 11 and if the worst was to happen and the child was badly injured or god forbid, died, criminal charges could be brought against the mother. Even for something fairly minor, social services would be informed and do assessments etc. it’s not even as if the thing she wants to leave her child for is really important! As one mum said, not even really a thing. You should not be prioritising one child’s minor event over your other, poorly child’s, wellbeing!

I leave my almost 12 year old alone for 30 min if absolutely need be but not if he was ill. No way should you leave a 7 year old alone especially not when they are ill.

I’m a laid back parent, but leaving a sick 7 year old on their own in a bit neglectful. The sick kid needs priority over a going to a school ceremony.

Kids used to go up chimneys. Your point is?

Take them with you and see if they can wait on the playground.

Very rude. OP didn't choose to call it Graduation, and whether you think it's ridiculous or not, it's an important event for OP as it's important to her DS.
FGS.

What would you do if the child was 3. You're year 6 child doesn't need you there. Your 7 year old does.

You're year 6 is only finishing primary school. No big deal. It's not graduation. And even if it ws university....You're a parent and you still have to out younger ones first.

The fact something is significant doesn't mean it has to be turned into a big show. It's too much and not helpful for many kids.

That's crazy. Maybe the fact it was ill-attended should make the school realise a big event every single year is unnecessary.

Totally agree, these events are too frequent as well. Stay and plays, stay and reads, mass attendance, show and tells, come and sees, charity events and so on.

My DC knows we can't attend them all but we will prioritise the 'more important' ones.

No, not a middle school pocket here, they will be going onto Y5 next year. This school in particular have these celebrations for each year but today I felt guilty for not attending the Y3 one due to work commitments.

This is the problem, schools are turning these things into big deals, so some children will get upset over their parents not being able to attend. Yet, as a child, there was no such event, so nothing to get upset over.

Can you not get a babysitter, try the Bubble app, you’d prob have to pay a two hour minimum or something. Otherwise a teenager who’s mature and looking for extra money might do it?

Is this at a school where the end of year 4 is a significant one? One of the pockets where there are still middle schools?

Can you not take your 7 year old with you and ask them to wait in the playground? School grounds should be secure and ask them to not get close to anyone?

I was at the Y4 celebration assembly today and so many children cried because their parents couldn't make it.

I cant believe you're even considering it.

In relation to 'happily not go' - I've missed nativity plays, achievement assemblies etc, not happily but because of other priorities. As working parents we juggle a lot - and have to make tough decisions.

I didn't mean it in terms of if you have to work and can't go.

Personally I think transitioning IS a big deal for children, so should be a big deal for us parents too. I don't think these 'graduations' are necessary and it puts unnecessary pressure on parents (it's usually money motivated) we just had one at nursery, paid for the photos, paid for the gown rental, had to contribute to tbe party..nothing more than a money spinner - these are 4 year old children!

In relation to 'happily not go' - I've missed nativity plays, achievement assemblies etc, not happily but because of other priorities. As working parents we juggle a lot - and have to make tough decisions.

In this circumstance, the sick child takes priority and the older child just needs to know that openly. There'll be times the older child needs mummy more and the younger child is sat watching cartoons. It's how parenting more than one child works.

"happily not go", but that's on the assumption there's something to go to. Never in the years I was at school were parents ever invited to the last day of school for the P7's, 5th year, and Upper Sixth. There was no such thing as a "Leavers assembly", that included parents attending. I find it a bit bizarre to be honest.

I remember my last day of primary, I walked home as usual, whilst my parents were at work, as did every other child there. Seriously, no big deal.

The only time in my primary years when I was disappointed, was when my Mum couldn't attend our Christmas Concert, I was the lead in the play, my Dad was there, but my Mum's school had their concert on the same night, so couldn't come watch ours. That was sad, as the concert was always a big thing every year but the whole leaving school thing never was.

Maybe it's a village thing, even after you leave primary, you still see all your former pupils, and teachers regularly anyway in the community.

I'd have left my child in those circumstances. Assuming she can use a mobile phone and you could be home in two minutes. I left mine from age 8. Or do you have a close neighbour that you can trust to be in and there if she needs them?

Is there really absolutely no one? What if you asked on Facebook (to your friends list obviously, not publicly) if you have it? If an acquaintance of mine even a loose acquaintance asked on Facebook if someone could watch their kid under these circumstances I would offer. Obviously being sensible and only agreeing to women etc watching them but you might get another mum willing to watch your sick kid while you go.

Why? Not all of us are bothered by transitions. There's loads of things my children do that are significant and I'm hugely proud of. The moving from one school to another isn't particularly one of them.

I have no memory particularly of leaving school. Not primary, the one that ran only to 16 or the other one I joined for 6th form. It wasn't a big deal. I do remember lots of performances and other events and my parents being there for those.

When it comes to DC1 leaving Primary I'll be led by him. If it's a big deal to him we will celebrate it as much as he wants to. But meanwhile he has his first ever cricket tournament on Saturday and that's a far bigger deal to me.

@ReadingSoManyThreads that there's parents who think leaving primary school isn't a big deal and would happily not go.