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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:
Whatafustercluck · 26/11/2025 07:22

I'm 46. Dad came to all of ours (mine and my two sisters). He's a massive advocate of education, given that he left school at 15 and went into a manual skilled trade but wishes he could have done something else (nothing wrong with manual skilled trades BTW, it's just how he personally felt about being forced down a certain route at such a young age). So he always encouraged us academically.

IAmKerplunk · 26/11/2025 07:17

NewNameNewMeNow · 26/11/2025 06:26

I’m 49. Both my parents went to all the ones I can remember. My dad used to get a bit dressed up for them - nice shirt and tie. I’m a teacher myself now and remembering this makes me a bit tearful every parents’ night.

Yes my mum and dad used to get dressed up for it too 🤣

IAmKerplunk · 26/11/2025 07:15

My dad (born 1944) attended sports days or concerts when possible throughout all my school life and came to parents evening when I was in secondary school. Parents evenings used to start at about 7pm so it was mainly both parents who attended.

Konstantine8364 · 26/11/2025 07:14

Nope I dont think he went to one! Im 37. But he worked away a lot when I was little and my mum was a stay at home mum until I was 10 or so. They did have quite divided roles, but they both pulled their weight!

MummyInTheNecropolis · 26/11/2025 06:55

I’m 41 and yes my dad (born in 1947) went to every single one, as well as every school play, sports day etc. He was always there, always supportive and always heavily involved. He also came to my DD (his DGD)’s plays and sports days. He died almost 8 years ago and I miss him every single day, he was the best dad and grandad we could ever have asked for.

Noseynebs951 · 26/11/2025 06:48

I’m 42 and attended school from 1987-2001. My dad came to everything possible and always wore a suit. He respected the teachers but stood up for me and my siblings when the teachers were unfair.

When viewing high schools my dad even came along. I remember a principal seeing me holding my dad’s hand and him in a suit so he told my dad not to send me to his school haha! That school was extremely rough back then and I would have been eaten alive at it!

NewNameNewMeNow · 26/11/2025 06:26

I’m 49. Both my parents went to all the ones I can remember. My dad used to get a bit dressed up for them - nice shirt and tie. I’m a teacher myself now and remembering this makes me a bit tearful every parents’ night.

Missey85 · 26/11/2025 06:11

No but neither did my mum 🤷

Doone22 · 26/11/2025 06:11

My dad would have gone as my mum didn't drive

sashh · 26/11/2025 05:59

KimGa · 25/11/2025 14:16

I think my Dad went to our secondary ones but only because my Mum doesn’t drive and she needed him to take her in the evening (we went to school on the bus)

This was true for me.

BeWittyRobin · 26/11/2025 05:37

I couldn’t say he never went to any (mainly cos I can’t imagine he wouldn’t have if he could have) but I have no memory of him attending. Was mainly my mum. However, my dad was in the army, so was often away or worked away for long periods of time. It was defo a mums job in our family.

Also with our children it’s defo a mums job. My husband doesn’t attend any not because he doesn’t care but they are usually before he would finish work x

Ooodelally · 26/11/2025 05:16

My brilliant dad came to absolutely everything that was in the evening but wouldn’t have dreamed of taking time off work for a day event such as a sports day or harvest festival - he is genuinely still quite bemused by parents who do that now… I don’t recall ever being bothered, mum was there and all our dads were working dads (I’m in my forties)

LadyGaGasPokerFace · 26/11/2025 05:04

Both my parents went. My father was born in 1936, but then again, his English was better than mum’s.

Wingingit73 · 26/11/2025 04:59

Yes he did.

Maddy70 · 26/11/2025 03:43

No only my mum ever went but I hadn't realised until you created this post !

Elbowpatch · 26/11/2025 00:49

My father, born 1920s, did. 1960s to 1980s.

pumpkinscake · 26/11/2025 00:32

I've just realised they didn't have them in my school, just sent home a report. Ireland, I'm 61. Private girls school.

Moveoverdarlin · 26/11/2025 00:17

My Dad was born in 1941, I was born in 1979. He went to every Parent’s Evening. He would know exactly what one was.

PinkArt · 26/11/2025 00:15

Mine is a similar age to yours and came to ours in the 80s and 90s. He was self employed though and if possible would always work his day around things like that.
I remember being little and realising that I didn't know any of my friends dad's though. Knew the mums form 'going to Claire/ Lucy/ Sophie's house for my tea' but the dads were all just a generic suit guy who got home late from London.

XenoBitch · 26/11/2025 00:14

No, he never went to parent's evenings or things like school plays.
I spent months in hospital and he never visited me.

GinkoRebelFoxes · 26/11/2025 00:13

My dad was born in the 1920s, and always came to mine.

Ariela · 26/11/2025 00:10

My parents were born mid 1920s, I was at school 1966-1978 both attended parents evening together (work permitting, which it usually did).

VivienneDelacroix · 26/11/2025 00:09

I'm 47, Dad was born in 1949.
I don't think he went to primary school, but it came to a point at secondary school where my mum wanted him to go as back-up to take on my maths teacher!

unsync · 26/11/2025 00:02

I'm late 50s. My mother did all parents' evenings. Dad wasn't back from work in time. We usually didn't see him much during the week, although he did manage to get back earlier on Fridays.

Both worked so no attendance at sports days, plays, prize giving or any other daytime stuff.

ilovesooty · 25/11/2025 23:59

I'm a lot older than 35 but younger than your dad. My dad went to every single one.

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