To be so upset I’m missing my child’s nativity?

Thought we could get parental leave for stuff like this? Although my school are very flexible and understanding.

Why don't the school do it in the evening? This used always to be the case.

Pulling a sickie and then appearing in public is a wonderfully effective gateway to disciplinary action. Top marks!

They can request holiday leave but no guarantee that it will be authorised.
Depending on nature of work, there needs to be specific numbers of staff to ensure service is covered

I'm pleased you have the choice.
Not everyone does have this

This
Comes with the territory of teaching!
I'm not being insensitive.im not a teacher but frequently missed my child's natavity play due to not being able to take leave.
And if school authorises OP to go, the same rule would apply to all staff.
Plenty of parents miss special events due to work responsibilities ( Christmas day etc)
Teachers are fortunate in that they are able to spend time with their children during school holidays.

Yes op said it twice

I mentioned it and her reply was

That's not the thread is about

Yes the child would not be devastated by her parents non attendance/OP wouldn't have to consider pulling a sickie or jacking in her career if the childs Dad could just be trusted not to forget his daughter Pre School Nativity play.

Wait. There’s another parent who could go but has form for ‘forgetting’?

Come on. There’s a way bigger problem here than not being able to go to this yourself.

It does sound like your school is ridiculously inflexible and I can see why that is frustrating and upsetting. Especially if some people are getting to go! Doesn't sound fair.

However...you are coming across as so snippy!! The "I survived" post is meant as a cheer up type thing, and your reaction seems quite dramatic.

I am also a teacher and hardly ever get to go to things like this - I'm secondary so it's difficult to skip exam classes and I have a partially pastoral role so it's hard to be out of school for things like that. And my husband works away most weeks so often my kids don't have anyone there.

I think its absolutely pathetic that your DH will probably "forget" to go too. I know you keep saying it's not really the point but surely you'd be less resentful about not being able to go if you knew he would be there?

@BIWI isn't being patronising - just saying it isn't the end of the world if parents can't make it if working

Not making it if they cba is different

You don't seem bothered that dh could go and see your child but won't unless nudged and reminded

It is a big deal, especially to the child

Well, now you're being a bit silly, aren't you? It was intended as a lighthearted response to a fairly dramatic OP, as well as offering you the perspective of a child who had been in your child's situation.

So yes, dismissive in that sense - but brusque? Sorry if I didn't write you a long essay explaining my post and tone!!!

You DON'T think it was dramatic to respond to a post saying "my mum missed my nativity and I survived" by saying "I want more than just survival for my kids thanks"?

Tell your partner to get it together and not forget lest the little dot’s face crumples while he is off doing whatever else. This is his child so he needs to step up. That’s truly awful behaviour (his)

Yeah it was. I laughed.

This is really sad.

I went to our nativity yesterday and sat next to another mum, who I know to be a teacher at a local school. Our school definitely also lets the staff go to odd things like this - we’ve been told before in the newsletter e.g. “Class 1A will be covered by a different teacher on Friday as Miss X is running a marathon!”. I think it’s a real plus that our school and other local schools let their teachers off for the odd day or half day, I can’t imagine they’d be that motivated otherwise.

You're quite right @PorridgeEater - it wasn't meant to be rude. Although I can see why it was taken as such.

My point being that, as a teacher, there are many, many things that your children do that you can't attend. And so the OP has to ask herself is this about her or her children? There will be plenty of children in the OP's class whose parents or guardians aren't able to attend, so her child won't be the only one without someone in attendance.

And, of course, being the child of a teacher does have the other, much more significant benefit of having them around for all their school holidays.

This was meant to be comforting, not rude - clearly op is upset but it's a pity not to take it in the spirit intended.
If op is a teacher they must have seen that sometimes parents can't attend - the inevitable consequence of juggling job and childcare.
(Would there by any chance be a friend who might be able to go?)

Will whoever has PPA then switch with you?

I was a Headteacher of a very small school, where I taught all the juniors in my class four days a week, and did the headteachers duties on the other day. Despite the limited number of staff (2 teachers, including me), a nursery nurse and a secretary / classroom support worker, I always made whatever arrangements I could to allow any member of staff to go to their child's concert, sports day, nativity etc. I had all the children together one afternoon to practice our Christmas concert, with the help of the other teacher, to allow the secretary / classroom support to go to her daughter's school play. It's a matter of respecting your staff and treating them well.

So sorry that you are not being treated the same way. Could you get another parent to video the performance for you? I know it's not the same but it might help a bit.

It's a part of it

Dh goes your child will have someone to watch them and for them to wave to etx

Dh forgets. They don't

Yes it's a shame you can't make it but he can .....