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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to keep my son off school tomorrow?

60 replies

BigCheese24 · 24/08/2025 18:53

Tomorrow is an English bank holiday. We live in Scotland. My DH and myself both work for an English bank so we’ve got the day off tomorrow. Because it’s not a Scottish bank holiday, school is on.

Weather looks to be fantastic tomorrow - should I give my son a cheeky day off & we go out and have some fun?

YABU - It’s a school day, send him to school.

YANBU - it’s a one off, have a family day out!

P.s. we don’t get fined in Scotland like they do in England (if that makes a difference? As I wouldn’t lie to the school I would tell the truth about why I was keeping him off.)

OP posts:
MadisonMarieParksValetta · 24/08/2025 20:42

AintNoPunshineWhenShesGone · 24/08/2025 20:08

Yes, pissing about with family instead of going to school just because the weather's nice, is definitely most important of all.

He'll be able to tell them that down the benefits office when he's an adult 👍

Show quote history

🤣🤣🤣🤣 seriously mate? He's in p4 ffs!

I would keep him off aye

KilkennyCats · 24/08/2025 20:42

BigCheese24 · 24/08/2025 20:04

I think the message would be that family is most important of all?

Show quote history

Is it really, to you?
You had a weekend away without your child, so to show him family is so important you’re taking him out of school to spend time with him?

cariadlet · 24/08/2025 20:39

BigCheese24 · 24/08/2025 19:22

Some of the replies are giving me such a laugh thanks guys haha

to answer some Q’s

He’s in Primary 4
he’s been back 2 weeks, this is week 3
and myself and my husband are just back from a weekend away (fri>sun) so that’s why we were looking to spend time with DS as we hadn’t over the weekend

Your child's only been back at school a few weeks. You've made up your own mind so I don't know why you are asking AIBU but yes you are.

Plenty of good reasons for keeping children off school: illness; medical appointments; major family events that have been stupidly scheduled for term time; they're taking part in a sports competition; it's Sports Day and they try their best in every PE lesson but are stressed at the thought of the embarrassment of being rubbish in front of an audience; it's almost the end of term, you know they're not doing any more work at school and you have saved a fortune by booking your holiday just before the school holidays start (I'm sure there are more decent reasons but those were the ones that sprung to mind).

Wanting to spend a day with your child because you have chosen to spend 3 days away from your child and will have a weekend with them very soon anyway is one of the crappest reasons that I've ever heard.

noctilucentcloud · 24/08/2025 20:29

I don't know why you're asking as it sounds like you've already made your mind up

Newrumpus · 24/08/2025 20:25

SummerFrog25 · 24/08/2025 18:58

Life is short.

keep him off, but make sure you have a good day. Whatever that looks like for your family!

one day off school isn't going to do him any harm & all the better you can be honest with the school (sanity prevails).

But if it is a state school, this is wasting public resources.

GRCP · 24/08/2025 20:21

AintNoPunshineWhenShesGone · 24/08/2025 20:08

Yes, pissing about with family instead of going to school just because the weather's nice, is definitely most important of all.

He'll be able to tell them that down the benefits office when he's an adult 👍

Show quote history

Bloody hell calm down, it’s only a day off!

TheHazelCritic · 24/08/2025 20:15

Do it! Winter is coming, make the most of a nice weather day!

PeloMom · 24/08/2025 20:13

Nag I’d enjoy my day with my DH or just enjoying myself. Plenty of days in the year for family time

CurlewKate · 24/08/2025 20:11

I would.But I used to give my kids the occasional day off-I once drove straight past school and we went for an impromptu day on the beach.

AintNoPunshineWhenShesGone · 24/08/2025 20:08

BigCheese24 · 24/08/2025 20:04

I think the message would be that family is most important of all?

Show quote history

Yes, pissing about with family instead of going to school just because the weather's nice, is definitely most important of all.

He'll be able to tell them that down the benefits office when he's an adult 👍

Original poster
BigCheese24 · 24/08/2025 20:04

Rocknrollstar · 24/08/2025 20:02

What message do you spend him if you take him out of school for a day out? You left him for a weekend and now you want to take him out of school so you can see him?

I think the message would be that family is most important of all?

OP posts:
Original poster
BigCheese24 · 24/08/2025 20:03

TheNightingalesStarling · 24/08/2025 19:41

Not just after the school holidays.

If you had taken a long weekend holiday together that would be different, but saying you want a family day as you had an adult weekend is a bit off really.

Yeah this is what my husband thinks. We own our own static caravan and we normally go there every bank holiday there is, infact that’s what we did last year and kept DS off school, however we’d promised it to other family at the beginning of the year for these dates (not realising it was a bank hol)

OP posts:
Rocknrollstar · 24/08/2025 20:02

What message do you spend him if you take him out of school for a day out? You left him for a weekend and now you want to take him out of school so you can see him?

Original poster
BigCheese24 · 24/08/2025 20:01

CountryQueen · 24/08/2025 19:49

Was the bank holiday a surprise to you?

Show quote history

What do you mean? Like did I find out about it last minute? If so, no, my manager gave us all a big reminder on Friday to not come to work Monday haha

OP posts:
CountryQueen · 24/08/2025 19:49

BigCheese24 · 24/08/2025 19:22

Some of the replies are giving me such a laugh thanks guys haha

to answer some Q’s

He’s in Primary 4
he’s been back 2 weeks, this is week 3
and myself and my husband are just back from a weekend away (fri>sun) so that’s why we were looking to spend time with DS as we hadn’t over the weekend

Was the bank holiday a surprise to you?

TheNightingalesStarling · 24/08/2025 19:41

Not just after the school holidays.

If you had taken a long weekend holiday together that would be different, but saying you want a family day as you had an adult weekend is a bit off really.

Hiptothisjive · 24/08/2025 19:31

Yeah no. School isn’t optional.

Dryshampoofordays · 24/08/2025 19:30

I believe keeping your child off school for quality family time is a great idea, I think it’s a backward system that tells families they should feel guilty or wrong for doing so!

Original poster
BigCheese24 · 24/08/2025 19:22

Some of the replies are giving me such a laugh thanks guys haha

to answer some Q’s

He’s in Primary 4
he’s been back 2 weeks, this is week 3
and myself and my husband are just back from a weekend away (fri>sun) so that’s why we were looking to spend time with DS as we hadn’t over the weekend

OP posts:
Astrak · 24/08/2025 19:04

Send him to school and then have a relaxing day with your partner. I think that it's very irresponsible to do anything other than that.

AintNoPunshineWhenShesGone · 24/08/2025 19:03

YABU

You may as well just tell him school isn't important if you can find something better to do.

CountryQueen · 24/08/2025 19:03

“Cheeky”? 🙄 Why not just go for lunch with your husband.

Did you plonk him in the playground when school closed in June just because you work for an English bank? Weird

HippeePrincess · 24/08/2025 19:03

I’d have an adults only day as well, we had one last Tuesday and have managed to swing one again this Tuesday and we plan on making the most of this one too.

WhineAndWine1 · 24/08/2025 19:01

I am all for taking a cheeky day off near the end of term but a week after they have been back ? You are taking the mic.

Itsjustnotthevibe · 24/08/2025 19:00

I would send him to school, have a lovely day with my DH and then do something fun with him after school (trampolining, swimming, whatever he likes).