Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

getting children to school

56 replies

maggie1963 · 01/10/2019 10:57

I have 2 sets of twins under 6 and i don't know what to do. when one of them is sick how do i get the other 3 to school i am a lone parent and i do not know any of the other mums in the school to ask for help. the school is always telling me off for the children's absence from school but i cant leave a sick child and take the others i have to keep them all off school. any advice please.

OP posts:
Branleuse · 01/10/2019 11:12

how far from school do you live? If they are close to 6, couldnt you leave the sick one at home in front of the telly for a bit, or are they not the sort of kid you can do that with? Mine wouldnt have been, but then again, i was walking to school by myself at that age, so as an occasional thing out of necessity, then might be ok. Otherwise, sick kid is going to have to wrap up and come with you. Can you get one of those trailers to pull them along in?

MyDcAreMarvel · 01/10/2019 11:14

Large buggy like a baby jogger and put the sick child in it. Have a taxi fund for when a child is sick.

user1498854363 · 01/10/2019 11:15

Sorry op, but it’s not ok to have 3 kids off school for no reason. You need to make friends! Failing that take sick child with you. How far away is school? How often? Do you drive? Can you get a cab or send well kids in cab?
You need to find solutions, keeping kids off school is not a solution, it’s lazy parenting.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Families General education
InDubiousBattle · 01/10/2019 11:16

How old are they? Under 5 and I would put the sick dc in a buggy to go to do the school run. How do you get to school?

Grannybags · 01/10/2019 11:18

Can a friend or neighbour pop in and look after the poorly one, or take the other 3 to school?

Passthecherrycoke · 01/10/2019 11:18

I would take the sick child with me, wouldn’t give it a thought to be honest.

EmrysAtticus · 01/10/2019 11:18

I agree that you need to take sick child on the school run with you.

IVEgottheDECAF · 01/10/2019 11:19

What are their actual ages?

merrygoround51 · 01/10/2019 11:20

Take the sick child with you. But make some friends for this type of scenario

JoxerGoesToStuttgart · 01/10/2019 11:21

You have to take the sick child with you on the school run. Just like parents of two children have to take one with them on the school run. It’s irrelevant that there are 4 or two sets of twins. It would be the same if there were only two. It’s not okay to keep the other 3 off school because one is sick.

PullingMySocksUp · 01/10/2019 11:21

How do you not know any of the school mums, having done a year or more of school runs? Nobody ever come back to play?
Is there a Facebook or WhatsApp group for either class?
I think your priority is to get talking to some other parents.

listsandbudgets · 01/10/2019 11:32

Sorry OP I know its hard but you'll have to find a way.

Talk to the school about the problem. Do they run a walking bus or similar? Can they put you in touch with parents who may be willing to help on an intermittent basis - we've occasionally picked up DCs and dropped them at school when parents or siblings are ill and they've done the same for us.

Otherwise, I'm afraid its a case of wrapping up ill child taking them on the school run and then getting them home and tucking them up in bed until pick up time. Not fun but your DCs need to go to school

Kanga83 · 01/10/2019 11:38

Get a double buggy. Sick ones go in the pram. How far are you from school?

listsandbudgets · 01/10/2019 11:58

I would imagine with 2 sets of twins, she already has a double buggy. Trouble is if her twins are built anything like my DCs there is no way they'd comfortably fit in one. DS's legs would just have dragged along at that age or he'd have had his knees by his chin

Original poster
maggie1963 · 01/10/2019 12:00

2 are 6 and 2 are 4 so no way could I trust them being alone. It's a 15 minute walk to school. It's ok if they just have a cold but it's when one of them is actually being sick and is high with fever. I can't make them walk

OP posts:
IVEgottheDECAF · 01/10/2019 12:03

How often are they sick like that though?

I have 5 dc between 0 and 11. One currently has a cold, i cant remember the last time one was properly ill.

It cant be a regular thing surely? Its just one of those thing you just have to get on with

Damntheman · 01/10/2019 12:04

I agree with the others. Get a double buggy love, put the sick child in the buggy with a bucket (if they're puking). You've got to get the other three to school, sick child will cope if wrapped up well enough in blankets with 2x15 min buggy rides in a day. You can do it. 2 sets of twins as a solo parent can't be easy, you're doing amazing.

PotteringAlong · 01/10/2019 12:05

You either stick them in a buggy if you still have one or you have to make them walk. You can’t keep 3 children off school who are not ill.

SmileCheese · 01/10/2019 12:07

It's ok if they just have a cold but it's when one of them is actually being sick and is high with fever. I can't make them walk

But they wont be that unwell often surely? Also you know some parents as your 6 year olds have been there a while and for the odd day you need help I'm sure someone would take the other 3 in for you or a neighbour would keep an eye on the sick one for half a hour?

Passthecherrycoke · 01/10/2019 12:09

I’m assuming you don’t have a car? It has to be the double buggy then. Must be such incredibly hard work to hVe 2 sets of twins 2 years apart. I would imagine it’s harder having the other 3 at home all day than dragging the sick one out though

Sirzy · 01/10/2019 12:10

How often are they off?

Original poster
maggie1963 · 01/10/2019 12:10

I have in the past taken one of them with a bowl and believe it or not the mum's have looked at me like I'm a monster for bringing him into school. I don't know anyone as iv only been here a few months. I don't feel I know anyone to ask for help. It seems to be a case of you are bad if you take them out and you are bad if you keep them home. I'm kinda pulling my hair out. My boys always seem to throw up and burn up they don't just get the snotty noses they have to go the whole hog

OP posts:
Original poster
maggie1963 · 01/10/2019 12:11

I'd rather them all be at school lol or at least just have the sick one home. School to me is a blessing.

OP posts:
Original poster
maggie1963 · 01/10/2019 12:12

2 are 6 and 2 are 4

OP posts:
Passthecherrycoke · 01/10/2019 12:13

Hmmm yes I can totally imagine some
People loudly making a fuss when you turn up with sick children but they probably don’t realise you’re alone and have no choice. People can live in their own little bubble about these things. Personally I think for the odd occasion this happens it’s worth getting in as early as possibly so you see as few people as possible. Asking a sympathetic teacher if there is somewhere you can leave the sick one strapped in whilst you whiz the others to their classrooms.