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Original poster

Anyone else ready for school to finish? Thinking of missing last days

56 replies

Gobbolinothewitchscat · 18/07/2019 10:10

I have just had my worst school run experience ever. School doesn't finish til next Thursday

I have a 5 year old, a 6 year old and a 3 year old. The 5 year is exhausted and walks like a snail to school. The 6 year old is OK but tired. My 3 year old has just had the hugest meltdown over the fact that her friend had a scooter to scoot to playgroup on. Traffic around the school is awful and I don't think it's safe. So explained to her that she could use hers in the garden but we wouldn't bring it to school. She had the mother of all meltdowns in front of everyone at school. I had to stuff her in ghe pram and just take her home. She turned round and bit me on the back of the hand (never done that before) and I got such a shock that I pushed her head to get her off. All in front of a a shocked looking Granny..

I am now sitting here covered in sweat and totally and utterly drained.

It's the playgroup end of term party tomorrow and there are various school events that the older two are looking forward to. They never normally miss school and have excellent attendance but I am seriously thinking of just finishing school/playgroup as of tonight and having a judicious "illness" until the end of term.

I don't want to go near that school or playgroup until September.

OP posts:
Alienspaceship · 18/07/2019 10:14

You are being unreasonable )even though this is chat). The children love the end of school stuff. Get your game plan together for the last few days.

Original poster
Gobbolinothewitchscat · 18/07/2019 10:17

I don't know if they will to be honest. They are exhausted and past it. I can herkdly get the 5 year old to get dressed in the morning - despite going to sleep at 7pm at night. I'm not sure forcing her to go to school for ghe next 4 days just to go to a end of term party for an hour is fair or sensible.

The 6 year old is in better form so maybe able to get DH to drop him off if he can mange it

OP posts:
Blueuggboots · 18/07/2019 10:19

I think that's completely normal! Of course you're going to get her off you, it hurts!
I doubt anyone is thinking about more than you.
Just think how you're going to feel 4 weeks into the school holiday? If it was me, I'd be wishing they were back at school and regretting my decision to remove them early!

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HeadintheiClouds · 18/07/2019 10:22

A 5 year old shouldn’t be exhausted every single morning. Are they anemic? School at that age isn’t exactly like doing a shift down a coal mine... Taking them out a whole week early isn’t on.

Original poster
Gobbolinothewitchscat · 18/07/2019 10:23

That's true blue. I just feel that we are missing most of the summer. The children are past it and so am I. This is most unlike me as they never ordinarily miss school unless really unwell and and have excellent attendance! I think I've just snapped today. The thought of 5 more days of tantrums over scooters and god knows what makes me want to run away screaming

OP posts:
Original poster
Gobbolinothewitchscat · 18/07/2019 10:25

She's not anemic. Just goes to a very pushy school that expects lots of homework and is just tired, hot and fed up. We walk everywhere and she has been struggling more in the heat

Not even had a break from the spellings this week, FFS.

OP posts:
RubbingHimSourly · 18/07/2019 10:28

Stick the 3 year old in a pushchair. You can't give up on life whenever the child doesn't get her own way.

Take the other two in. They'll be fine
Round here it's all bouncy castles and parties in the playgrounds. Not exactly challenging.

Hermagsjesty · 18/07/2019 10:28

My 5yo and 7yo are shattered too so you have my sympathies. Can not wait for a break from the morning school runs.

Passthecherrycoke · 18/07/2019 10:30

I agree with the others there are 6 long weeks to go, don’t take them out early. really these days aren’t any different from any other apart from you know the end Is in sight! Everyone is hot bothered and angry at the moment.

CherryPlum · 18/07/2019 10:31

No I definately wouldn't let them off a whole week, everyone's tired and ready for a break at this stage, you just got to push through for a few more days. The kids will be watching films and playing board games in school mostly and having end of year fun.

It'll be the same next year, and the year after, and you can't skip a week every year. Mine are teens now, and really really desperate for school term to end, but I can't just say they don't need to go.

Original poster
Gobbolinothewitchscat · 18/07/2019 10:31

Not at our school. There is an end of term party for a couple of hours and a parents evening (what joy). The 3 year old would miss the playgroup party and a nursery settling in session but she has had one and been to and from the nursery lots of times so no big deal in the scheme of life.

I am normally hugely compliant and don't approve of any unauthorised absence but not starting school holidays til the last week of July is ridiculous!

OP posts:
Original poster
Gobbolinothewitchscat · 18/07/2019 10:35

Oh - apparently they do also get to help to clear out the classrooms too! What a treat - they can help me do the shed at home. instead 😁

OP posts:
NoSquirrels · 18/07/2019 10:38

Take tomorrow off ori day off and have a 3-day weekend. Send them in for the last days Tues-Thurs.

You say yourself it’s you who doesn’t want to do it, not the DC who will miss out on the end of term stuff.

HeadintheiClouds · 18/07/2019 10:39

Oh, don’t miss the nursery settling in session? Having gone to and from there a couple of times is nothing like actually being there with the kids she’ll be spending the next year with

TheStakeIsNotThePower · 18/07/2019 10:48

Mine are shattered too but hey ho. Tomorrow they will be taken to the childminder at 7am by dh because I will already be at work and then picked up at 6. They will survive. Whether dh and I will survive the dreaded annual 6 weeks of childcare juggling remains to be seen.

zafferana · 18/07/2019 10:50

I get what you're saying OP. All the DC are tired. Mine broke up last week and they were both exhausted. I'd pick and choose what you attend, so playgroup party - maybe not, settling in session - I would go. Or like a PP said, take either Fri or Mon off to give them a long weekend. The end of the year always seems to drag on an on and the last couple of weeks is mostly nonsense anyway, but the kids really enjoy it. I loved the events at the end of the summer term, because you're at school, but not really doing any work.

Original poster
Gobbolinothewitchscat · 18/07/2019 10:54

I think that's a good idea about taking tomorrow or Monday off if needs be.

The 5 year old is havjng an op on 29 July and the surgeon is a bit 😳 that she will really have no summer break to speak of because school runs on so long. We have an extra week at the Feb half term which no one wants!

OP posts:
Original poster
Gobbolinothewitchscat · 18/07/2019 10:59

Summer break befire the op, I mean.

We usually go to everything as I am acutely aware that we have 3 children who are all close in age and don't want anyone to miss out because of that.

The 3 year old goes to playgroup with lots starting nursery with her and has been back and forward daily to the nursery for 2 years when the older two went so knows the staff well.

I have literally spent months going to minimum 2 parties per weekend and millions of extra curricular stuff along with helping on school trips and making sure that I go to every school thing going. This morning I suddenly had a what's the fucking point thought!

OP posts:
HeadintheiClouds · 18/07/2019 11:03

Sounds like hard going. Could you take the 5 year old out, and spend some quality time alone with her? She’d still need to accompany you on the school runs of course, but may be less resistant if she was off to do some fun stuff afterwards?

Pinktinker · 18/07/2019 11:14

I used to put my three year old in a pushchair when we walked to school. I didn’t really care, we had a long schlep to school and her legs got tired. It wasn’t worth the meltdowns.

You’d regret having this last week away from them by the fourth/fifth week of the school holidays Wink. The summer holidays are long, enjoy this last bit of time apart from them.

Nearlyadoctor · 18/07/2019 11:34

It is tough this time of year - but you mention a minimum of 2 parties a weekend for months etc, maybe that’s the thing you should have been cutting down on if the children were getting so tired and as for what’s the point well you chose to have 3 children!

Original poster
Gobbolinothewitchscat · 18/07/2019 12:06

The 3 year old is always in the pram to school. Thankfully as I could stuff her back in it and take her home.

The what's the point comment is not about the children Hmm. It's about the fact that I am now wondering if being absolutely 100% compliant and ensuring attendance at all costs is actually as absolutely as I have always felt that it is. What is a child truly learning in the last 5 days of school surrounded by at least 10% of her cohort who are in tears in the playground and having to be coaxed into school? Are parties really that important in the scheme of life? Why should I be killing myself going on school trips and helping out when other parents don't? Maybe it's just time to call it a day in school for this year

OP posts:
zafferana · 18/07/2019 12:07

I agree on the two parties per weekend - are you mad? I've had days when we've been to two parties (one for each DC), but they're rare, because I don't say yes to them all. If it's a good friend of my DC then yes, if it's someone they don't really know or play with then it depends whether it's convenient or not. I also ring-fence Sunday afternoons - that's our family time and it has to be a really good friend for me to consider breaching that little bit of peace before it all starts again on Monday. Don't volunteer for everything OP and don't feel like your DC have to attend every party - you'll run yourself ragged!

Original poster
Gobbolinothewitchscat · 18/07/2019 12:11

The parties are going to be cut back on as the 3 year old is now starting to get quite a few invites. We will be keeping Sundays party free come what may - I don't care if the Queen invites them by royal command 👑!

I think there's too much stuff that I certainly want to make sure they attend so they don't miss out and to ensure they have absolutely the best opportunities etc - but is it really gojng to kill the 3 year old to miss the second nursery induction. No it won't.

OP posts:
NeverGotMyPuppy · 18/07/2019 12:14

But they get 6 weeks? I don't really understand what you mean about it running in so long?
Sorry about the operation, hope it goes well.

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