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Original poster

People older than 35; did your dad go to school parent’s evenings?

438 replies

Farrings · 25/11/2025 14:14

I asked my parents to look after our daughters for an hour (they’re primary age) so DH and I could both go to parents evening.

Both kids are at the same school so it’s no bother, and we care equally about their education, so we both want to go.

My dad (born 1943) asked ‘What’s parents evening?!’ He denied any knowledge of the concept, and said he’d never been to one. He has 3 kids who were all in school in the 90’s/early 2000’s.

To be fair, I’m not sure my mum went to many either… they’re not great with supporting formal education…but I was still surprised to hear my Dad say he didn’t even know what one was!

Then I thought, was this normal for the time maybe?

if you’re over 35, please vote -

YANBU - ‘My dad didn’t go to parents evenings either, (or maybe like, one time)!’

YABU - My dad DID GO! Or a few times anyway!

(Obviously whether or not Mum’s went is a whole other question, I will have to save that for another vote)

P.S This is Just for fun! X

OP posts:
CurbsideProphet · 25/11/2025 17:00

My mum was a teacher and a couple of times had to do her own parents evening on the same night, sonny dad went to ours on his own. The rest of the time they went together.

KickHimInTheCrotch · 25/11/2025 16:59

My Dad did a few times (born in 1951) but he and my mum were both university graduates and took education very seriously. I doubt if he went to every single one but he was very involved with our education over all.

miniaturepixieonacid · 25/11/2025 16:58

I'm impressed everyone can remember!

Primary School I have no idea.

Secondary School I can only remember 2 of them and my Dad was there both times.

He was born in 1955 but was also a parent of school aged children in the 90s/early 00s. I actually thought he was on the older side of parents for that time but maybe not!

Inextremis · 25/11/2025 16:57

My Dad (born 1927) went to every single one of my parents' evenings, much to my distress, 'cos I didn't want either parent to go and find out what a little shit I'd been :)

Tink3rbell30 · 25/11/2025 16:56

No never, he was always working. He would always come to concerts, presentation evenings etc though as they were in the evening after 6pm.

BringBackCatsEyes · 25/11/2025 16:56

Just my Dad went to the secondary ones for me and my 2 older siblings.
We had 2 younger siblings at home, one of whom was very difficult.
So just Dad went. He was an alcoholic so it was often really embarrassing - not stumbling about, but not adhering to the time schedule and making wise cracks.
He was born late 30s.

Zanatdy · 25/11/2025 16:54

Yes, always both parents. I’m 48

Tintackedsea · 25/11/2025 16:54

I think he went to one. It wasn’t his thing. He was good in other ways but we definitely went to his things rather than the other way around. I think about this a lot. I sometimes wonder if parents these days are too involved in their kids lives. There’s loads of benefits of that for sure but it’s definitely got downsides.

Couldyounot · 25/11/2025 16:54

Yes (when not on call). I'm 49, he was born in 1940, this would have been in the 80s and early 90s

WearyAuldWumman · 25/11/2025 16:53

I'll add that I taught for 40 yrs from '84 and often saw dads at parents' evenings.

Starconundrum · 25/11/2025 16:53

Yes.

I'm 50.

They used to serve wine when I was a kid!

Denimbee27 · 25/11/2025 16:51

Sadly no he worked shifts and long hours/overtime money was tight for us in the 80s/90s he would occasionally manage to swap at work but I know he always wanted to be there for more things but just couldn’t be. Mum always went along to everything at school and they were both very supportive of education at home. It’s quite sad really he missed so much my husband is now able to attend for our girls

2old4thispoo · 25/11/2025 16:51

My dad was born in 1944.
He never went to an open evening, ever.

DelphiniumBlue · 25/11/2025 16:48

I'm not convinced my Dad ( born 1929) even knew what school I went to, he certainly didn't go to any parents evenings!
On the other hand, DH went to lots of parents evening for our DC ( oldest 33 now) although I don't think he ever took time off work to do so - it was always me as the fallback if he was working, even though I was working too.

ThatJollyGreySquid · 25/11/2025 16:48

Yes, my Dad (born in 1930) went. My Mum could drive, but he went anyway.

Ambridgefan · 25/11/2025 16:46

I am a lot over 35 and my dad went to parents evening. My children are over 35 and their dad went to parents evenings

ToffeePennie · 25/11/2025 16:46

My dad went to about 3 of my primary school ones. He was on the board of governors though and was in the army so often away.
He attended all of my secondary ones and was actually my biggest advocate helping me to stand up to bullies for the 5 years I was there!

Laserwho · 25/11/2025 16:44

In my early 50s. My dad didn't but my amazing step dad went to every single one ❤️

JenniferandJuniper · 25/11/2025 16:39

I once asked my mother if my father went to parents evenings. She sounded surprised when she said 'no' as if it was daft asking. Like it wasn't expected rather than he chose not to. I suppose also it would be because he would probably need to leave work early as he worked long hours. Mother did go.

dizzydizzydizzy · 25/11/2025 16:38

I'm late 50s and my parents are the same age as your Dad. They always both went to parents evening.

vickylou78 · 25/11/2025 16:38

I'm 47 and my dad came to most of my parents evenings.

tinyspiny · 25/11/2025 16:37

My late father was born in 1939 and he went to all the parent evenings for myself and my sisters , he was a very hands on parent despite my mum being a SAHM .

Dorrieisalittlewitch · 25/11/2025 16:35

Yes. My dad was born 3 years after yours OP. He turned up to one having come straight from work (where he'd literally just got off a plane after 3 weeks of NATO war games, no sleep and quite a lot of mud).

Thinking about it, when I attended British Forces schools abroad, most children had both parents attend (we all went as well due to lack of childcare). I don't think that was the same when we were UK based.

Dh says FiL never went to anything school related.

JustAMiddleAgedDirtBagBaby · 25/11/2025 16:34

I'm 50, Dad was born 1929. He came to some but not all. I do remember him being very involved in choice of secondary school, and wanting to make sure I was happy with that choice.

LikeMyHeartIsAboutToStopBeating · 25/11/2025 16:34

Yes. I’m 52. He certainly went to all secondary school ones if he was in the country. I think the primary ones were at the end of the school day so probably not but he’d have gone if he could. Education was a very serious business in my house growing up!

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