I do not like nativity plays

Actually learning about Christianity opens up huge parts of the curriculum particularly in literature and history. (Henry VIII, the slave trade, Shakespeare, uk government, Victorian morality etc etc).

We are a Christian country believe it or not - the church is entwined with the state apparatus and a major player in politics, culture and education, so it’s important that children learn about these things so that they can have their own informed opinions about it later on.

Maybe you should do some of your own learning about why they celebrate the nativity in schools instead of wanting to cancel it?

(I agree with you about the sexist sweeping though.)

Your last comment reminds me of overhearing my daughter speaking to her daughter after their Nativity. I heard her say Ask Mr Teacher if you can watch Twin Peaks after break, Odd, I thought, I know they'll be hyper but Twin Peaks seemed an odd thing. Only later did I find out it wasn't Twin Peaks at all, it was Tim Peak and my granddaughter was space mad at the time!

Honestly I agree they are the most tedious mind numbing waste of time I’ve ever endured.

Thankfully I do t have to do them for many years now.

That said between my 3 DC i missed 1 play - harvest festival. My DS remembers this and has repeated often “nobody came to my harvest festival”

The kids remember, they look for family and know when nobody is there.

So for the sake of your DC I would recommend you suck up the tedium and plan to spend a few more years attending, they are as you know not forever.

We've got DS' one tomorrow. Can't wait, believe there's an Elton John medley at some point. He's sheep number 2 and has been practicing his "baa" extensively. I am looking forward to Mary and/or Joseph dropping the baby and the evitable yawning child who looks like they might nod off at any second. Tissues at the ready for my teary eyes and to pass to that one kid who's got a rotten cold but couldn't miss their big performance as Angel number 6.

Probably not in first century Bethlehem tbh! I think you’re posturing a bit here, it’s not that fucking bad surely. If it’s not something you enjoy, fine, but also tough. Show up for your child.

Do they mark events in other religions?

Same! I found a report card the other day from when my now adult son was in nursery/reception he played a sleepy child in one and a snowman in another, there were photos in with the report and my god I miss it.
Enjoy it while you can op, when it comes to Christmas having small children of this age is the best.
Christmas last year resulted in my 23 year old going out on Christmas Eve and not coming home until Christmas afternoon because he’d met a girl in the pub!
Boxing Day, he went to a party and the next morning I caught him trying to sneak another girl out of the door.
I’d pick a cute 3 year old covered in cotton wall balls singing Frosty the snowman any day of the week.

Thankfully my daughter is in a multicultural school who don’t seem to do the nativity. I am not complaining, I find them tedious and dull.

Christ, people actually have the balls to just get up and walk out? Wouldn’t happen where I live. Tiny parochial town. You’d be persona non grata.

I love it, personally. Until the end. My little girl always cries because she wants to stay with us rather than going back with her class. Fingers crossed not this year.

I mean I wouldn't go that far but if I were invited to do a talk at a random primary school and it happened to be on the day of their Nativity so I got to watch an extra random one that I had no other connection with I would genuinely see that as an absolute treat.

I love them. All the children looked they were loving it in every one I went to. I'm really sad that in KS2 they only do a carol concert so last year was my last year watching as a parent.

I volunteered to go today to sell raffle tickets for the PFA so I could stand at the back and watch it and was almost as invested as I was when my own DC were in it.

🤣🤣

Is this a joke post? If not you need to get a grip, seriously

And poor Joseph having to be there even though he knew it couldn't be his child, wanting to LTB because she told him a cock and bull story about the head angel dropping by to tell her she was pregnant.

Is that you, David Sedaris?

https://www.scribd.com/document/210901871/Front-Row-Center-Thaddeus-Bristol

I thought this was obvious. No adult enjoys the story, it’s literally the joy of seeing your young child push themselves, read lines or sing songs, look cute. It’s a proud parent moment.

So you won’t go again, so your kid has no one who loves them watching? How sad.

As soon as I saw this thread title I remembered a MN thread from years and years ago where the OP was absolutely furious that her DD had the part of Innkeeper’s Wife. Every PP who disagreed with her was given a severe telling off and instructed to “give pause” to how sexist their views were.

I honestly don’t understand why anyone wouldn’t enjoy watching their own child on stage, assuming the child is enjoying themselves. My own first time in a nativity was in 1980 where I played the well known and traditional role of Eskimo.

Enthusiasts! Brilliant. It makes it sound as if people up and down the country are gatecrashing random nativity plays.

I just went to one and none of children looked like they were happy to be doing it. If it was my choice if my child participated then I definitely would not make them do it, but if they have to endure doing it then I’ll endure showing up to support them.

And the school pet, for the Summer holiday! One thing that really made me angry when I was Grandma squat on those tiny chairs, it was those parents who left after their sprog had done their bit, as well as being rude and insulting to all the people who had worked hard, it was a source of distraction for the children. If a parent needs to get back to work then stand by the door for ease of exit.

YANBU! I hate them, it is torture watching my DC on stage hating every second, but being forced to participate because "resilience ". We breathe a huge sigh of relief every year when it is over, and we can relax and start enjoying xmas.

And, in their defence, I think my school do it pretty well. Each class gets one song to sing, and only the oldest class get lines to pull it all together in between, and then they do a nice whole school song at the end. In and out in 30min, and no one is upset about being left out.

It is nice to see the kids who enjoy it being enthusiastic. I wouldn't cancel it. But I hate it, because my DC hate it.

You sound like fun. And a super parent. I bet it made you cringe a bit right? You need to level up in terms of parenting AND FAST

You may well feel the same when they aren't happening anymore, though.

My grandson who is 6 has learned his lines and everyone else’s - proud of him.

No one does - hell on earth! 😂