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Original poster

DC getting themselves to school

68 replies

TheThievingDIL · 11/05/2019 14:58

I've a hospital appointment come through, for exact time DC leave house to go to school. I need to leave at the absolute very latest 45 minutes before. DH reckons DC can get themselves out to school and thinks I'm babying them by saying I'd try to shift the appointment and if I can't beg a favour off someone. They are 7&9 and we live next door to school. They do not need to walk on a road or even pavement to get there. I think they're too young and will lose the key He thinks they'll manage. DH can't stay in the morning as he's leaving early from work to be there for a parents meeting in the evening.

OP posts:
ILoveMaxiBondi · 11/05/2019 15:01

Too young to leave alone for 45 minutes.

Breakfast club? Neighbour? other school parent? Family member?

IceRebel · 11/05/2019 15:02

45 minutes is a long time, is there a breakfast club you could book them in to?

Widowodiw · 11/05/2019 15:02

Don’t go to the parents meeting on the evening ??

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Bunnybigears · 11/05/2019 15:03

Nope they cant be trusted to be alone for 45 minutes and leave on time and lock up at that age, the walk is neither here nor there. Ask school if they can go in early that day or if they can go to a friend's before school.

Sirzy · 11/05/2019 15:04

He can miss the parents evening and take them to school instead.

That is way too young to be responsible for getting themselves out to school

LIZS · 11/05/2019 15:05

Surely only one needs to go to parents'evening. Either ask if breakfast club can take them as a one off or a friend if dh can't won't

greenelephantscarf · 11/05/2019 15:09

walk to school on their own as you describe - yes
staying alone for 45 min, hell no.

Drogosnextwife · 11/05/2019 15:12

My DP goes mad when I leave my nearly 11 year old in himself and he doesn't even need to get ready and get himself to school. They are too young.

PCohle · 11/05/2019 15:16

The walking to school bit is fine, but being alone for 45 minutes first with no one to chivvy them out of the door on time is a problem. How quickly would the school alert you if they didn't turn up?

I'd also be worried at not having an adult check the house was secure for the day.

AlunWynsKnee · 11/05/2019 15:17

No way would I leave my 8 year old alone for 45 minutes. And he wouldn't pay attention and leave on time if he was left to his own devices.

Lllot5 · 11/05/2019 15:17

Bit too young I think. Can’t you drop them at one of their friend’s houses?

Lellochip · 11/05/2019 15:21

If they're dressed, ready and fed before you leave then 45 minutes where all they have to do is lock a door doesn't seem like a problem? How sensible is the eldest?

Kpo58 · 11/05/2019 15:27

Do they even have to lock a door? Don't most people's door auto lock behind them unless it's on the latch (but who really keeps a door on the latch anyway)? No one is going to know if a house isn't Yale locked (assuming you have one) for about 2 hours on a random day.

NannyRed · 11/05/2019 15:35

Way too young to leave them to get themselves to school.
Phone the hospital, ask for a change of time or get someone to help you out.
I can’t believe you’re even thinking of leaving a 9 year old to get a 7 year old to school!
Why can’t Dh take time off to take his children to school? Surely he has at least half a days leave left?

AuntMarch · 11/05/2019 15:42

I'd probably day ok for 9, but not at 7

MiraculousMarinette · 11/05/2019 15:49

Children have zero sense of time, it would be risky

Duvetdweller · 11/05/2019 15:55

Can’t you get a school mum friend to get to yours at the time you need to leave? And just wait with them til it’s time to go to school? They can have your parking spot as an incentive!

Original poster
TheThievingDIL · 11/05/2019 15:58

No, we both need to be there for parents evening. MIL will be there in the evening but she can't get to us early enough to cover my appointment.
Yes, they would be dressed. Set alarm to get ready, alarm to leave. Let them lock up (not Yale).
I'm not happy, DH thinks I'm trying to over complicate things and make it too complicated.

OP posts:
lifetothefull · 11/05/2019 16:02

I wouldn't personally.

Bunnybigears · 11/05/2019 16:03

Why do you both need to be there for parents evening? I understand you both might like to be there but sometimes what we would like and what is possible aren't the same. Is there a reason you aren't considering breakfast club or a friend, or a parent of the kids friends? Or why DH cant take the day off work to do the morning and the evening?

Original poster
TheThievingDIL · 11/05/2019 16:09

We both need to be there because the school have requested it.
I'm not considering breakfast club because you have to enroll for the whole school year, at the beginning of the school year.
DH can't take day off as he is in a new job and still in his probation time.

OP posts:
IceRebel · 11/05/2019 16:12

We both need to be there because the school have requested it.

It's a request not a summons. If it doesn't suit your family; which in this case it doesn't, then only one of you should go.

ILoveMaxiBondi · 11/05/2019 16:13

Don't most people's door auto lock behind them unless it's on the latch

Confused umm no. Do you live near a Yale lock factory or something?

OP the breakfast club May allow you to send them this one day as a one off if you explain the situation. It’s worth asking.

Sirzy · 11/05/2019 16:13

The simple option is to then say to school you will either have to attend alone or rearrange. Unless you can find a friend to help out.

What’s the plan for the key? You can’t leave a 9 year old to look after a key at school all day!

ILoveMaxiBondi · 11/05/2019 16:14

And no you don’t both need to attend parents evening. You’re a married couple who live together, one can relay the information to the other.