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Original poster

Parents taking school aged kids to a supermarket opening during school hours

68 replies

Hdlll · 04/09/2025 19:46

My friend uploaded some photos onto FB attending a new supermarket opening where she lives. It’s a supermarket chain that they had before but moved to a bigger unit. She took her DS who only started school on Monday. There were other school aged children in the background.

Supermarket opened at 10am, not the normal time which is 7am or 8am from now on.

Isn’t it pathetic that parents made their kids skip school for attending opening a new supermarket? Especially at the start of the school year. It’s pathetic any time of the year. I don’t think they got anything such as free stuff, coupons etc.

My friend did not send her DS (6) back to school as later on a photo of him in McDs.

OP posts:
Original poster
Hdlll · 04/09/2025 22:12

FuzzyWolf · 04/09/2025 20:26

Rather than assuming they were deliberately attending the opening of a supermarket (because who does that?) I would assume he hasn’t started school yet, the school had taken them, it was outside of school hours, or pretty much any other reason than you have jumped to.

Yes he started school on Monday in year two.

OP posts:
YanTanTetheraPetheraBumfitt · 04/09/2025 22:07

Some of the schools near me have staggered starts depending which year you’re in. Some went back today, some tomorrow, some next week.

tellmesomethingtrue · 04/09/2025 22:04

Don’t be so judgy.

Dndndn · 04/09/2025 22:03

Not all children start back on the same day. Here, schools a few minutes apart started back on different days this week. Not all children go for the whole day either, especially at the start of term.

PollyBell · 04/09/2025 22:00

seasid · 04/09/2025 21:58

You do realise that kids can go directly from the gp to the supermarket as some have pharmacies or they just need the required calpol etc. I used to attend medical appointments as a kid often and go to the shop after to get a treat (I’d often have major treatment for my chronic illness)

you have no idea other people’s circumstances and just because they’re in school doesn’t mean anything

Yes this

seasid · 04/09/2025 21:58

You do realise that kids can go directly from the gp to the supermarket as some have pharmacies or they just need the required calpol etc. I used to attend medical appointments as a kid often and go to the shop after to get a treat (I’d often have major treatment for my chronic illness)

you have no idea other people’s circumstances and just because they’re in school doesn’t mean anything

whistlesandbells · 04/09/2025 21:55

Attending the opening of a supermarket deserves compassion. It’s quite honestly sad.

Who knows about skipping school - do you have their timetable?

Be grateful you weren’t there and move on.

Sar8h · 04/09/2025 21:36

If it was the Market Harborough Aldi, pupils and staff from one of the local primary schools were there to open it and help cut the ribbon.

Callalilly2016 · 04/09/2025 21:16

Fascinated by idea that a supermarket would have an opening ceremony! Which supermarket is it? Did they get some z list celebrity to cut a ribbon?!

Slabberon · 04/09/2025 21:14

Most schools in our city start tomorrow or Monday. My kids start a Tuesday. So, perhaps those children just aren’t back yet??

scorpiogirly · 04/09/2025 21:13

Hdlll · 04/09/2025 19:46

My friend uploaded some photos onto FB attending a new supermarket opening where she lives. It’s a supermarket chain that they had before but moved to a bigger unit. She took her DS who only started school on Monday. There were other school aged children in the background.

Supermarket opened at 10am, not the normal time which is 7am or 8am from now on.

Isn’t it pathetic that parents made their kids skip school for attending opening a new supermarket? Especially at the start of the school year. It’s pathetic any time of the year. I don’t think they got anything such as free stuff, coupons etc.

My friend did not send her DS (6) back to school as later on a photo of him in McDs.

I think it's pathetic for anyone to go out of their way to go to a supermarket opening. Unless of course you genuinely needed some bits and it was the most convenient option.

Tortielady · 04/09/2025 21:11

Did any of them look as if they might be in high school? I started FE college when I was 16 and at that time, in my area, colleges went back a week or so after the schools. I looked like the young adult I was, but I had classmates who still had baby faces and the stature of children.

As to the supermarket opening, it doesn't sound very interesting. But when you're 11 or so and you fear and abominate games or double maths, anything will do.

Ontherocksthisyear · 04/09/2025 20:51

It's pathetic that you care enough to write this.

TheWildZebra · 04/09/2025 20:48

YANBU to be outraged. This is what our taxes are going to - kids not attending school. And then parents wonder why they have bad attendance and grades in the years down the line. If parents don’t set examples of priorities how will a kid follow them

Miserygutsandtheblastedcold · 04/09/2025 20:43

I agree with you OP, if people did indeed take their kids out of school for this, it's very sad indeed.

Ibetitwasaldi · 04/09/2025 20:40

Was it Aldi Market Harborough? Only saying that as the whole town seems to have got ridiculously excited about the new Aldi so I can well believe people have taken their kids out of school!

cramptramp · 04/09/2025 20:36

Stop asking the OP why she cares. If no one cared about anything, the threads on here would be very boring.

Ddakji · 04/09/2025 20:35

One of my colleague’s kids isn’t back to school until next week because they’ve dumped a bunch of inset days in this week.

biscuitsandabreak · 04/09/2025 20:33

My school isn’t back until Monday and some years not until Thursday.

verycloakanddaggers · 04/09/2025 20:32

Well skipping school for the opening of a new shpermarket is completely batshit Is it?? It's just an unusual and unwise choice, but there's far weirder things happening every ten minutes.

HowDoYouSolveAProblemLikeMyRear · 04/09/2025 20:31

Two of my children are school-aged. They're home-educated.

I had no idea I was meant to keep them away from public places during school hours, whoops 🤭

TearsForFears25 · 04/09/2025 20:29

I mean, do you not have any other interests? Why do you care so much that you’d make this thread? Not much of a friend either tbh.

Mewling · 04/09/2025 20:27

Close friendship, is it?

FuzzyWolf · 04/09/2025 20:26

Rather than assuming they were deliberately attending the opening of a supermarket (because who does that?) I would assume he hasn’t started school yet, the school had taken them, it was outside of school hours, or pretty much any other reason than you have jumped to.

Pastaandoranges · 04/09/2025 20:23

Well skipping school for the opening of a new shpermarket is completely batshit crazy. Surely there is an explanation. Have you asked her outright? I would ask my friend out of intrigue.