Do you know what pisses me off about parents evenings?

[BretonStripe]

My eldest child is in YR3, youngest in Reception. So just worked out dh and I have attended eight parents evenings so far (two per academic year).

Had ds1's tonight and got told he's working at greater depth, he's polite, works hard, contributes well etc I thanked his teachers for all their hard work...they smiled and nodded appreciation...but failed to thank us? We work hard at raising polite children, who are always on time to school with breakfast inside them, eager and willing to learn. We read with/to them every night, and help them with their homework.

Do teachers generally not credit parents for anything? Is it normal for them not to say something along the lines of "thanks for all you do too?".

I hope that this is a wind up, otherwise, WTF- YOUR CHILDREN

do you expect your child's future boss to thank you as well? For them being punctual and polite at work?

We got thanked for that at the year 7 Parents evening and tbh I thought it was rather odd. I wondered what the rest of the class were like if the teacher (it was only one) felt like a polite kid that did their homework was something to mention to the parents!

The teacher is educating your child.

You are bringing up your own child.

Whatever should the teacher thank you for? Parenting your own child properly?

Do teachers generally not credit parents for anything? Is it normal for them not to say something along the lines of "thanks for all you do too?".

Yes, it's normal OP. Why should they have to do that? My DD is Head Girl at her school but I'm not holding my breath for an assembly in my honour any time soon. I'm fairly sure most of her teachers don't even know my name. The five minute parents evening slot is about your child's school life, and good behaviour and good parenting should be a given. This is your time to thank the teachers.

If a teachers is doing something outside of there remit which is more than there job - fair play thank them. As I said no need to thank anyone for doing their job teachers or parents.

Not "nice work" at all, OP. Read what I actually said ffs
With your logic you'll have already made a complete tit of yourself at your dc's primary school parent's evening though to be fair you'll have given the teachers a good laugh in the staff room the next morning
Secondary school parents evenings are a bit more brutal however and for the sake of your dc, it might be useful to drop the expectation that teachers will express gratitude to you for actually parenting your own children

So in the space of a couple of hundred years we've gone from parents being eternally appreciative and thankful that their child is being provided with a state education, to parents who think teachers should thank them for the privilege of educating their child. Hilarious OP!

I was coming on to moan about having driven 11/4 hrs from work for a 5 minute meeting followed by a 30 minute rush hour drive home but I prefer your version( live 8 miles from school but work in the other direction)

Face book aka bragging book is that way.--->.
Delighted you have future Oxford graduate and Saint, though.

So after a gushing good report, you think the teacher should thank you?
I’d find it a bit creepy tbh.
Feeding your dc breakfast, getting them to school and doing reading tasks etc are part of ensuring normal child development.
If you didn’t do these things your care would be neglectful.
But no one else, teacher or anyone will thank you for these things, it’s just what parents have done for generations and your dc will pay it forward if/when they have dc Of their own.
The only people that may thank you are your dc themselves, that’s the point of celebrations such as Mother’s Day.

I just think I’d sound really patronising. “Well done for being a brilliant mum!” Thumbs up for you, mum!
Not even in my wildest excesses of enthusiasm at parents’ evening (when the prefects have brought me my 7th coffee and biscuits of the evening and the palpitations are beginning) have I ever thought to comment on parenting.

Your kids thank you for feeding them

I can’t get my head around this. You are the parent! They are young children! Do you expect them to fend for themselves? Why do you feel they need to thank you for giving them food to eat? I just ..... what are they actually thanking you for? It’s like they need to be grateful you made them exist!

😆😆😆😆

Your kids thank you for feeding them I can’t get my head around this. You are the parent! They are young children!

Actually I can't get my head around why this is weird. It's just an extension of teaching children to say please and thank you. It's a social nicety to show appreciation for being given something and I think it's good parenting to teach children to show good manners, even if gratitude isn't strictly necessary.

Eh?

I'm very proud of my kids but don't need any thanks from anyone as they're not the centre of the universe. One seems to excel in most things he does and is generally an absolute joy, one finds things incredibly difficult but has been told he tries harder than anyone in his classes and the little one just wants to be a train. Teachers have never thanked me (other than for remembering pe kit without being asked )

🤦‍♀️ oh dear! If I thanked a parent I'd think they'd think I was taking the mick! By saying your child is polite etc is to acknowledge your hard work but a thank you for parenting is a step too far.
On a brighter note you're clearly doing a good job 😊

So you've said that parents are responsible for their children's behaviour, OP.

Children who don't contribute in class, who aren't always polite, who aren't eager to learn - that's the fault of the parents is it? If teachers openly blamed parents for this during parents' evening, they'd be uproar!

Your kids thank you for feeding them shock
I can’t get my head around this. You are the parent! They are young children!

Yeah, I can't get my head around what is wrong with this.. My children have always shown their appreciation for what I do for them. A 'thanks for the meal' or clearing the table, whatever. Even if they don't like something, they will appreciate the effort that goes in to preparing it. Most are now grown and really, really nice people.

I think you want your children’s praise all for yourself.
You get told your child is fantastic and polite and amazeballs and your not happy coz they didn’t congratulate you for making him that way.

It’s not about you anymore.

You want me gem to thank you for doing the bare minimum that your parental duty requires

Do you expect your dentist to thank you for brushing your teeth?
Your doctor to thank you for eating fruit and vegetables?

I'll thank you OP.. for cheering me up with this hilarious thread!

I have nominated this for classics, it will never not be funny!!!!

You're a grown up OP....you don't GET credit. Your good feeling comes from watching your children succeed.